Final Report Summary - NEMESIS (Novel Energy Materials: Engineering Science and Integrated Systems (NEMESIS))
The NEMESIS project examines Novel Energy Materials: Engineering Science and Integrated Systems. The aim of NEMESIS is to create new piezoelectric and ferroelectric energy harvesting systems capable of converting mechanical vibrations into electrical energy, thermal fluctuations into electrical energy and sunlight into chemical and electrical energy. The assembled team consists for materials scientists, heat transfer and electrical engineers, chemists and experts in nano-fabrication. NEMESIS has examined materials and structure for novel energy harvesting systems. This has included energy harvesting by the conversion of mechanical vibrations and thermal fluctuations into electrical energy, along with broadband and high temperature vibration harvesting systems. Novel composite architectures have been formed with high performance figures of merit and the ability to operate at a range of operating frequencies. The potential to use self-healing has also been examined for dielectric based generators. In terms of thermal harvesting novel electrode geometries at a range of scales and modes of operation have been evaluated, including its combination with oscillating heat pipes. Potential applications of such harvesting approaches include the scavenging of energy in tyre for wireless sensors related to tyre pressure monitoring systems and and oil/gas applications.The coupling of ferroelectric materials with electro-magnetic and electro-chemical systems has also been examined, with new insights into the use of vibrations and heat to create hydrogen via water splitting. High quality state of the art reviews have also been generated in piezoelectric and pyroelectric harvesting.