Project description
Energy-harvesting sensor systems that operate nearly perpetually
As the demand for solar energy increases, the more urgent the need for energy harvesting solutions becomes. The EU-funded METATHERM project plans to demonstrate a versatile energy harvesting sensor array technology that can efficiently collect tiny amounts of energy from the environment. The novelty of the sensors will rely on the integration of an extremely compact, microwave antenna that incorporates metamaterials to further signal performance. The sun’s energy will be harvested using a novel ionic thermoelectric device. Pairing the energy harvesting device with a supercapacitor and a thermal energy storage system, METATHERM’s platform will allow continuous operation of the device. Project activities will pave the way for the development of high-efficiency, maintenance-free, self-powered sensors.
Objective
METATHERM will demonstrate a versatile energy harvesting and communication system for unattended environment sensors arrays, allowing the development of maintenance free and autarkic operation devices. The novelty builds up from several different innovations, the main one being the microwave antenna, based on epsilon engineering using metamaterials, allowing the antenna to show extremely high gain and an extreme compactness [FETOPEN Project NANOPOLY]. The energy efficiency of the antenna allows the electrical power need to be decreased accordingly, which allows the consideration of novel energy harvesting technologies to be used to power the system. In METATHERM, the energy of the sun is harvested using a novel ionic thermoelectric device. This technology is based on ion migration under a thermal gradient, and show higher Seebeck coefficient than usual tellurium based semiconductors without the use of rare or toxic elements: a significant advantage in the context of the rapidly growing energy demand for IoT and mobile electronic systems. Used in addition to a supercapacitor to store the electrical energy and a thermal energy storage device, METATHERM platform will allow continuous operation of the device day and night. Moreover, due to the similarity in device structure between the iTE device and the supercapacitor, METATHERM will benefit from manufacturing know how of the latter. A substantial maturity level increase is then expected for the iTE devices. Finally, the project aims to develop a platform integrating all these technology in a single device, and exploration of its potential applications. To ensure market fit, the project plans a 3 phases exploitation plan, gathering potential user interest at the beginning of the project, selecting most promising applications at the demonstrator design stage, and produce a transfer plan at the end of the project.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences internet internet of things
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2021-TRANSITION-CHALLENGES-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
12489 Berlin
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.