Groundbreaking alternative to batteries from Dracula Technologies
Combining low-light Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) energy harvesting and electrical storage on a single flexible film.
Dear Readers,
The Harvesting Revolution Newsletter is here to keep you informed about the most compelling developments in the field. In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable energy solutions, the articles we have curated for you this month showcase groundbreaking innovations and intriguing insights.
In this month's selection, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the diverse applications and advancements within the Energy Harvesting domain. We hope you find these articles as captivating and thought-provoking as we do.
By the way, check out our new website! Join us in exploring the power of LAYER® and LAYER®Vault, unlocking a new era of possibilities.
Thank you for your continued interest in our newsletter, and we look forward to keeping you abreast of the latest trends in the exciting world of Energy Harvesting.
Best regards,
The Dracula Team
📚 Great reads
Scientific articles
As a promising energy-harvesting technique, an increasing number of researchers seek to exploit the piezoelectric effect to power electronic devices by harvesting the energy associated with water flow. In this emerging field, a variety of research themes attract interest for investigation; these include selection of the excitation mechanism, oscillation structure, piezoelectric material, power management interface circuit, and application. Since there has been no comprehensive review to date with respect to the harvesting of water flow using piezoelectric materials, herein relevant work in the last 25 years is reviewed. Read more…
A self-powered intracardiac pacemaker in swine model - Open Access
Harvesting biomechanical energy from cardiac motion is an attractive power source for implantable bioelectronic devices. Here, we report a battery-free, transcatheter, self-powered intracardiac pacemaker based on the coupled effect of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction for the treatment of arrhythmia in large animal models. We show that the capsule-shaped device (1.75 g, 1.52 cc) can be integrated with a delivery catheter for implanting in the right ventricle of a swine through the intravenous route, which effectively converts cardiac motion energy to electricity and maintains endocardial pacing function during the three-week follow-up period. Read more…
Luminescent solar concentrator efficiency enhanced via nearly lossless propagation pathways - Open Access
Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) have the potential to serve as energy-harvesting windows in buildings. Although recent advances in nanotechnology have led to the emergence of novel fluorophores such as quantum dots, perovskites and others, the commercialization of such functional glass remains immature due to an insufficient power conversion efficiency. In other words, improvements in fluorophores alone cannot fully maximize the potential of LSCs. Here we introduce a new laminated type of LSC structure where a patterned low-refractive-index medium acts as an optical ‘guard rail’, providing a practically non-decaying path for guiding photons. Read more…
Solar-driven membrane separation for direct lithium extraction from artificial salt-lake brine - Open Access
The demand for lithium extraction from salt-lake brines is increasing to address the lithium supply shortage. Nanofiltration separation technology with high Mg2+/Li+ separation efficiency has shown great potential for lithium extraction. However, it usually requires diluting the brine with a large quantity of freshwater and only yields Li+-enriched solution. Inspired by the process of selective ion uptake and salt secretion in mangroves, we report here the direct extraction of lithium from salt-lake brines by utilizing the synergistic effect of ion separation membrane and solar-driven evaporator. Read more…
🌍 Climate related researches
Greenland’s glaciers are retreating everywhere and all at once - Private Access
A comprehensive analysis of satellite data finds that the Greenland ice sheet has lost more ice in the past four decades than previously thought. Moreover, the glaciers that are the most sensitive to seasonal temperature swings will probably retreat the most in response to future global warming. Read More…
he 10 New Insights in Climate Science series, jointly developed by The Earth League, Future Earth, and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), is an annual synthesis highlighting essential recent advances in climate change research with high policy relevance, from natural and social sciences. This influential policy report has been launched every year since 2017 at the climate COP with participation from the UNFCCC Executive Secretary. Read More…
💰 Energy Harvesting and IoT Market opportunities
New website, new ambitions. Welcome to Dracula Technologies revamped! Join us in exploring the power of LAYER® and LAYER®Vault, unlocking a new era of possibilities.
Dive into detailed technical insights into Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) technology, unraveling the intricacies that power our innovations. Read More…
Delve into our target markets, where our cutting-edge solutions make a significant impact. Read More…
Discover the Green MicroPower Factory, a testament to our commitment to sustainable energy solutions. Read More…
Immerse yourself in our latest articles, staying informed on industry trends and breakthroughs. Read More…
And for those seeking professional growth, advance your career with us, as we pave the way for a brighter and more sustainable future. Read More…
Asset tracking used to be synonymous with mere theft prevention. Today, it's about weaving efficiency into the operational fabric of businesses. Innovations like the LoRa EdgeTM platform are enabling companies to:
Revive Lost Assets: Misplaced or stranded goods? Asset tracking is now a beacon, guiding businesses to swiftly recover these items, catapulting operational efficiency to new heights.
Make Insightful Connections: Marrying device condition with location data isn't just smart; it's revolutionary for insurance claims and asset management, offering a panoramic view of asset health and utilization. Read More…
MIT researchers have developed a battery-free, self-powered sensor that can harvest energy from its environment. Because it requires no battery that must be recharged or replaced, and because it requires no special wiring, such a sensor could be embedded in a hard-to-reach place, like inside the inner workings of a ship’s engine. There, it could automatically gather data on the machine’s power consumption and operations for long periods of time. Read More…
Described as a groundbreaking technology, it combines low-light Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) energy harvesting and electrical storage on a single flexible film. According to the company, LAYER® Vault could help to revolutionize the electronics industry by providing a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional batteries, enabling unprecedented energy-autonomy for IoT and ultra-low-power products. This technology marks a significant milestone for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), device makers, integrators and IoT solution providers, simplifying design processes and reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Read More…
Demand for Li-ion batteries continues to grow in sectors such as electric vehicles, stationary energy storage, and consumer electronics. From its market report, "Li-ion Battery Recycling Market 2023-2043", IDTechEx estimates that in 2023, total demand for Li-ion batteries was 750+ GWh across these sectors, which will increase to almost 10 TWh in 2043. However, potential constraints on the supply of critical raw materials (CRMs) for Li-ion batteries may be coming towards the end of the decade. This will see Li-ion battery recycling play an increasingly important role in the Li-ion industry. Read More…
💡 Learning Content
Wearable Energy Harvesting and Humane AI Pin - Podcast
Discussing Energy Harvesting for Wearable Technology, Wearable AI and Wearable Device Halves Stress Symptoms.
Anxiety Into Electricity: Lenovo Keyboard, Mouse at CES 2024 Channel Your Fidgety Fingers
The “Mechanical Energy Harvesting Solution” in two Lenovo prototype input devices turns your tics into battery power.
Why Is It So Hard To Harness Wave Energy?
From NASA's satellite technology to the towering wind turbines and expansive solar panel arrays, the journey of renewable energy has been nothing short of astounding. But amidst these remarkable advancements, a new player is emerging, poised to redefine the renewable energy landscape - wave energy. Waves, driven by constant ocean winds, hold immense potential as a clean energy source. However, harnessing this energy is a complex task. Waves are not uniform; they vary in size and move in intricate patterns…
📅 Events to consider this month
Events to attend this month: list of exciting events, webinars, and videos for you to explore this month.
February, 7: The Role of CO2 Utilization in Achieving Carbon Neutrality
This webinar will explore the most promising CO2U applications, including economic, technological, and environmental factors and market outlook. The importance of CO2 utilization within CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) and the broader global net-zero picture will be examined. Register
February, 8 : The Time for Long Duration Energy Storage is Coming
Dozens of players are developing and commercializing LDES technologies, including alternative batteries to Li-ion, mechanical energy storage, thermal energy storage, and hydrogen storage. Billions of dollars have been invested into companies developing these technologies. Proposed lower capital costs of these technologies (on a $/kWh basis) will aim to be a key advantage compared to Li-ion, especially at a longer duration of storage. However, other factors such as round-trip efficiency, cycle-life / lifetime, and energy density, minimum economical system size per project and other considerations will influence the success and deployment volume of any one technology. Register
February, 26-29: MWC Barcelone
MWC Barcelona is the largest and most influential event for the connectivity ecosystem. Whether you’re a global mobile operator, device manufacturer, technology provider, vendor, content owner, or are simply interested in the future of tech, you need to be here.
Why? Because it’s the one time of year where everyone who’s anyone comes together under one roof. Tens of thousands of senior executives from the top global companies, international governments and trailblazing tech businesses converge at MWC Barcelona to make decisions. Register
February, 29: The Evolving Opportunity in EV Battery Fire Protection Materials
There are many material solutions deployed in the market already and many more in the early stages of commercialization. Each has their own benefits and tradeoffs with critical factors like cell format, battery structure, energy density, and cost all playing important roles. Common incumbent materials include ceramic blankets, mica sheets, powder coatings, and encapsulating foams. These are likely to remain popular, but other options like aerogels, intumescent materials, and even fire resistant polymers are making ground into the market Register
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To contact us: contact@dracula-technologies.com
The Dracula Team.