IMAGE: Georgia Tech professor Zhong Lin Wang holds an improved nanogenerator containing 700 rows of nanowire arrays. The generator was used to power nanometer-scale sensors. Click here for more information.

Self-powered nanosensors

By combining a new generation of piezoelectric nanogenerators with two types of nanowire sensors, researchers have created what are believed to be the first self-powered nanometer-scale sensing devices that draw power from the conversion of mechanical energy. The new devices can measure the pH of liquids or detect the presence of ultraviolet light using electrical current produced from mechanical energy in the environment.

Based on arrays containing as many as 20,000 zinc oxide nanowires in each nanogenerator, the devices can produce up to 1.2 volts of output voltage, and are fabricated with a chemical process designed to facilitate low-cost manufacture on flexible substrates. Tests done with nearly one thousand nanogenerators – which have no mechanical moving parts – showed that they can be operated over time without loss of generating capacity.

Details of the improved nanogenerator and self-powered nanosensors were scheduled to be reported March 28 in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

“We have demonstrated a robust way to harvest energy and use it for powering nanometer-scale sensors,” said Zhong Lin Wang, a Regents professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “We now have a technology roadmap for scaling these nanogenerators up to make truly practical applications.”

		IMAGE: Georgia Tech Professor Zhong Lin Wang and researchers Chen Xu and Sheng Xu examine images of nanowire arrays used in their improved nanogenerator. Click here for more information.

For the past five years, Wang’s research team has been developing nanoscale generators that use the piezoelectric effect – which produces electrical charges when wires made from zinc oxide are subjected to strain. The strain can be produced by simply flexing the wires, and current from many wires can be constructively combined to power small devices. The research effort has recently focused on increasing the amount of current and voltage generated and on making the devices more robust.

In the paper, Wang and collaborators report on a new configuration for the nanowires that embeds both ends of the tiny structures in a polymer substrate. The wires can then generate current as they are compressed in a flexible nanogenerator enclosure, eliminating the contact with a metallic electrode that was required in earlier devices. Because the generators are completely enclosed, they can be used in a variety of environments.

“We can now grow the wires chemically on substrates that are foldable and flexible and the processing can now be done at substrate temperatures of less than 100 degrees Celsius – about the temperature of coffee,” explained Wang. “That will allow lower cost fabrication and growth on just about any substrate.”

The nanogenerators are produced using a multi-step process that includes fabrication of electrodes that provide both Ohmic and Shottky contacts for the nanowires. The arrays can be grown both vertically and laterally. To maximize current and voltage, the growth and assembly requires alignment of crystalline growth, as well as the synchronization of charging and discharging cycles.

		IMAGE: This figure shows (a) fabrication of a vertical-nanowire integrated nanogenerator (VING), (b) design of a lateral-nannowire integrated nanogenerator (LING) array, (c) scanning electron microscope image of a row of laterally-grown… Click here for more information.

Production of vertical nanogenerators begins with growing zinc oxide nanowires on a gold-coated surface using a wet chemical method. A layer of polymethyl-methacrylate is then spun-coated onto the nanowires, covering them from top to bottom. Oxygen plasma etching is then performed, leaving clean tips on which a piece of silicon wafer coated with platinum is placed. The coated silicon provides a Shottky barrier, which is essential for maintaining electrical current flow.

The alternating current output of the nanogenerators depends on the amount of strain applied. “At a strain rate of less than two percent per second, we can produce output voltage of 1.2 volts,” said Wang. “The power output is matched with the external load.”

Lateral nanogenerators integrating 700 rows of zinc oxide nanowires produced a peak voltage of 1.26 volts at a strain of 0.19 percent. In a separate nanogenerator, vertical integration of three layers of zinc oxide nanowire arrays produced a peak power density of 2.7 milliwatts per cubic centimeter.

Wang’s team has so far produced two tiny sensors that are based on zinc oxide nanowires and powered by the nanogenerators. By measuring the amplitude of voltage changes across the device when exposed to different liquids, the pH sensor can measure the acidity of liquids. An ultraviolet nanosensor depends on similar voltage changes to detect when it is struck by ultraviolet light.

In addition to Wang, the team authoring the paper included Sheng Xu, Yong Qin, Chen Xu, Yaguang Wei, and Rusen Wang, all from Georgia Tech’s School of Materials Science and Engineering.

The new generator and nanoscale sensors open new possibilities for very small sensing devices that can operate without batteries, powered by mechanical energy harvested from the environment. Energy sources could include the motion of tides, sonic waves, mechanical vibration, the flapping of a flag in the wind, pressure from shoes of a hiker or the movement of clothing.

“Building devices that are small isn’t sufficient,” Wang noted. “We must also be able to power them in a sustainable way that allows them to be mobile. Using our new nanogenerator, we can put these devices into the environment where they can work independently and sustainably without requiring a battery.”

This is the latest animation by design and innovation company Seymourpowell of its visionary transportation concept, Aircruise – a giant, vertical airship powered by natural energy and designed to carry travellers in style and luxury.

his is the latest animation by design and innovation company Seymourpowell of its visionary transportation concept, Aircruise - a giant, vertical airship powered by natural energy and designed to carry travellers in style and luxury.

Originally a self-generated project, Seymourpowell¹s Aircruise is the concept design for a hotel in the sky, with low passenger numbers and huge internal spaces offering room for living, dining and relaxing, as well as scope for dramatic and inspirational public spaces. The initial design proposes a bar/lounge zone, four duplex apartments, a penthouse and five smaller apartments.
The concept subsequently captured the imagination of Korean giant Samsung Construction and Trading (C&T). Driven by its interest in new materials for building, Samsung C&T appointed Seymourpowell to refine the idea and produce a detailed computer animation of the proposed experience to illustrate this visionary approach to the future.

Your probably thinking by now that the new emerging Re-Cycling technology is the stuff of tomorrow. Well its not a lot of what we see has been around for longer than we think. Air power is not new, Electric powered motors old hat. Wind power? yes we have been using wind power for hundreds of years, we just don’t see it until we decide to go to the beach.

Yes those delightful old style sailing boats and ships.  Many still in commercial use today. But if you to travel on the high seas, bob along to the boat yard and see if there are any sail boats for sale, you can often pick cheap ones up in the autumn season, unfinished projects or just left by the owner who has moved away etc…

These boats usually have a small engine to power them just in case there is no wind. But for those of us who want to stay green we can now purchase electric powered engines.

After all what better way to travel than by wind and wave.

• Remember look after your sails and they will look after you.
• An acredited course on sailing and navigation would be a good idea!
• Safety gear
• Boat maintenance
• Insurance!

Sailing Boat Basics

How to Make a Catamaran Sailboat from PVC Pipe

http://rebelcat.com/

So that’s the starter good luck me hearties enjoy your sailing.

Good luck from all at runon02.com

The Creator

Cristian Armando Polanco, 23, was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Since 2004, he has been studying Industrial design at the Universidad Rafael Landivar with an expected graduation in 2010.

He likes to design almost everything from product design to transportation design. He is always impassioned in every project that he develops. He gets very inspired by old school design style but always thinks about how is going to be the near future. Trying to be better every day, he has won some local awards from artistic competitions and illustration. He always challenges himself to be one of the best’s designers from Guatemala.

The Aero concept

Aero is a convertible three-wheeled, mid-engine electric vehicle with rear wheel drive for two passengers.

The design concept is based on the shapes of nature. In order to suit an ecological solution I was inspired by air and water to create organic shapes. Simultaneously, the formal and functional aspects are influenced not only by elegance and simplicity of the 30`s car styles but with the “Formula 1” cars formal aspects.

The Aero body is made with compressed polymers; it is easy to build and recycle and its materials can be re-used in new or different applications. The vehicle is very light weight which allows to easily reach high-speeds with a small amount of energy consumption. Following the NATURE CONCEPT, the vehicle is painted with colors that represent cleanliness inherent in the water and air: Matte Dark Blue body paint mixed with a Pure White interior color and chrome details to emphasize the core of the concept.

The Aero concept consists of a three-wheeled system. The front wheels give the vehicle direction, each one of these has an individual motor linked to the steering wheel by a wireless system. In the interior of the vehicle the most important piece is the steering wheel. This controls the input and output speed system. On the top of the steering wheel are two buttons in charge of increasing or decreasing the speed. The right button allows for acceleration and the left one brakes the vehicle.  The vehicle has two LCD touch screens in front of each passenger which controls the radio, air conditioning and GPS systems.

Aero has three power alternatives: Wind Power, 120V Power and Solar Power.

Wind Power – In order to have a renewable energy system, the most important source of power for the AERO vehicle is the wind. By means of the wind power system the lithium battery is charged while the vehicle is in motion.

120V Power – The AERO vehicle can be plugged into any source of 120V electricity to start running the car. Afterwards the vehicle starts automatically working with the wind power system.

Solar Power – The vehicle has two solar panels located between the front wheels; day light is absorbed by these panels to power the LCD information system. Each of the three alternative power sources is stored in the vehicle’s battery.

Tire design – Michelin Aerogenerator is an airless tire made with compressed polymers with an internal reinforcement structure. The tires are covered with rubber to resist the asphalt and high speeds. The wind comes through the tire and the rim to generate the wind power by the rotational motion. The wind power transfers the energy to the fuel cells of the vehicle.  While the Aero is in motion the tire gathers the wind and creates more energy for the power system.

Aero is an eco-sport vehicle thas been thought to be an excellent way for green and sports car lovers to have fun at high speeds, enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

Preserving our environment can be fun. Let’s not wait until it is too late.

Note from the Editor:

With designers of this ilk creating such desirous vehicles we know that the future of Re-Cycled energy transport systems is in good hands.

After all it is not just the boring run of the mill designs that are needed.

We know from the history of transport design design that vehicles such as the Sinclair C5  did not fire the general public into rushing into the C5 dealer ships and ordering their Super C5.  In fact it did quite the opposite, what ever designs and concepts come out of the design houses now have to really grab us not just by our wallets but as vehicles have always done, by our hearts.

We have to want to get into our vehicle and drive past our neighbour knowing they are bloody envious to hell, and want one to.

To all designers remember grab them by their hearts and their wallets!