Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GREAT-4PA (Self-powered and fully biodegradable electronic system for measuring local parameters and releasing agrochemicals in agricultural fields)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-01-16 bis 2023-01-15
As a major societal concern, it is imperative to reduce agricultural pollution.
Indeed, to boost the growth of crops and to increase cereal yields, agrochemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, etc.) are today overused. This negatively impacts the environment: for instance, in the EU, a significant part of water bodies are under pressure from intensive agriculture.
Precision agriculture (PA) can help European agriculture to shift towards more sustainable practices. PA refers to new technological sensing capabilities (ex: battery-powered wireless sensors) in order to remotely collect local relevant parameters (ex: temperature, humidity, pH, etc.) so that variations in conditions within an agricultural field can be assessed. The local parameters retrieved can help growers to take more informed decisions in a timely manner. For example, instead of treating the whole field periodically, growers can use agrochemicals only where and when it is really needed. The promise of PA is hence to produce more while using less chemical inputs.
Nonetheless, deploying large networks of electronic sensing units (nodes) to cover vast fields is challenging. Indeed, batteries offer limited operation lifetime. On one hand, recollecting large quantities of dispersed dysfunctional devices is not an option for the growers. On the other hand, the nodes cannot remain in the soil. The electronic components and batteries they embed are indeed full of hazardous materials and heavy metals. As such, nodes currently in use actually constitute another source of pollution.
To tackle such problems, the GREAT-4PA project aimed at redefining the core electronic components of battery-powered nodes to make them completely eco-friendly. In particular, the project proposed a concrete solution to the problem of the toxic batteries via the development of a power source having the ability to physically disappear after a period of stable operation so that it can it left in the soil after use without environmental impact.
Indeed, to boost the growth of crops and to increase cereal yields, agrochemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, etc.) are today overused. This negatively impacts the environment: for instance, in the EU, a significant part of water bodies are under pressure from intensive agriculture.
Precision agriculture (PA) can help European agriculture to shift towards more sustainable practices. PA refers to new technological sensing capabilities (ex: battery-powered wireless sensors) in order to remotely collect local relevant parameters (ex: temperature, humidity, pH, etc.) so that variations in conditions within an agricultural field can be assessed. The local parameters retrieved can help growers to take more informed decisions in a timely manner. For example, instead of treating the whole field periodically, growers can use agrochemicals only where and when it is really needed. The promise of PA is hence to produce more while using less chemical inputs.
Nonetheless, deploying large networks of electronic sensing units (nodes) to cover vast fields is challenging. Indeed, batteries offer limited operation lifetime. On one hand, recollecting large quantities of dispersed dysfunctional devices is not an option for the growers. On the other hand, the nodes cannot remain in the soil. The electronic components and batteries they embed are indeed full of hazardous materials and heavy metals. As such, nodes currently in use actually constitute another source of pollution.
To tackle such problems, the GREAT-4PA project aimed at redefining the core electronic components of battery-powered nodes to make them completely eco-friendly. In particular, the project proposed a concrete solution to the problem of the toxic batteries via the development of a power source having the ability to physically disappear after a period of stable operation so that it can it left in the soil after use without environmental impact.
The GREAT-4PA addressed multiples aspects with the goal to redefine the whole architecture of truly eco-friendly nodes capable of:
-Obtaining relevant local information about an agricultural field while by-passing the use of traditional toxic off-the-shelf electronic components and printed circuit boards. In particular, the project focused on the development of mechanical modules made of biodegradable bistable beams switching from one stable position to another according the level of surrounding humidity. Ultimately, the integration of multiple beams reactive to different stimuli could replicate basic logical functions in a manner analogue to electronic transistors.
-Going beyond the usual sensing node capabilities by adding actuation functionalities to create a green smart transducer for PA which could deliver agrochemicals precisely and locally. In this perspective the project focused on the design of a biodegradable reservoir that could be buried into the soil. This reservoir, filled with a liquid agrochemical, also embedded electrically controllable gates to release it near the plant roots when needed.
-Powering both aforementioned capabilities via the fabrication of an electrical power source that could be left safely into the soil after a period of stable operation with zero environmental impact.
The project led to major advances regarding the power source aspects via the fabrication of the FlowER battery. The FlowER (evaporation flow redox) battery is a paper-based battery that is exclusively made of eco-friendly materials and chemicals of benign toxicity. Inspired by nature, with its shape of a true flower, it exploits the phenomenon of evaporation similar to the transpiration mechanism occurring in plants.
Results about the FlowER battery were published in the scientific journal Energy & Environmental Science (A plant-like battery: a biodegradable power source ecodesigned for precision agriculture, 15(7), pp. 2900-2915, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d2ee00597b(öffnet in neuem Fenster)). The FlowER battery also appeared in multiple press releases in order to reach a broader audience.
-Obtaining relevant local information about an agricultural field while by-passing the use of traditional toxic off-the-shelf electronic components and printed circuit boards. In particular, the project focused on the development of mechanical modules made of biodegradable bistable beams switching from one stable position to another according the level of surrounding humidity. Ultimately, the integration of multiple beams reactive to different stimuli could replicate basic logical functions in a manner analogue to electronic transistors.
-Going beyond the usual sensing node capabilities by adding actuation functionalities to create a green smart transducer for PA which could deliver agrochemicals precisely and locally. In this perspective the project focused on the design of a biodegradable reservoir that could be buried into the soil. This reservoir, filled with a liquid agrochemical, also embedded electrically controllable gates to release it near the plant roots when needed.
-Powering both aforementioned capabilities via the fabrication of an electrical power source that could be left safely into the soil after a period of stable operation with zero environmental impact.
The project led to major advances regarding the power source aspects via the fabrication of the FlowER battery. The FlowER (evaporation flow redox) battery is a paper-based battery that is exclusively made of eco-friendly materials and chemicals of benign toxicity. Inspired by nature, with its shape of a true flower, it exploits the phenomenon of evaporation similar to the transpiration mechanism occurring in plants.
Results about the FlowER battery were published in the scientific journal Energy & Environmental Science (A plant-like battery: a biodegradable power source ecodesigned for precision agriculture, 15(7), pp. 2900-2915, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d2ee00597b(öffnet in neuem Fenster)). The FlowER battery also appeared in multiple press releases in order to reach a broader audience.
The disruptive biodegradable evaporation flow redox (FlowER) battery obtained during the GREAT-4PA lead to major advances compared to the state of-the-art.
Indeed, most paper-based batteries previously reported were based on the capillary effect. As such, they could only generate electricity during very limited periods of time (ex: a few minutes up to a few hours maximum of continuous operation). By exploiting the evaporation effect, the FlowER reached unprecedented levels of operation lifetime. This makes it ideal to target PA applications.
The results of the GREAT-4PA project align well with European policy priorities in order to reduce pollution. On one hand, since it can be left in the soil after use with zero environmental impact, the FlowER battery intrinsically participate in reducing electronic waste (e-waste: one of the current fastest growing waste streams). On the other hand, if connected to (future) biodegradable sensors for PA, it will also directly participate in reducing agrochemical pollution by helping the grower to use agrochemicals solely at the right place and at the right time.
As such, the FlowER battery represents a concrete step with a positive contribution in fighting against the impact of human activities on the environment.
Indeed, most paper-based batteries previously reported were based on the capillary effect. As such, they could only generate electricity during very limited periods of time (ex: a few minutes up to a few hours maximum of continuous operation). By exploiting the evaporation effect, the FlowER reached unprecedented levels of operation lifetime. This makes it ideal to target PA applications.
The results of the GREAT-4PA project align well with European policy priorities in order to reduce pollution. On one hand, since it can be left in the soil after use with zero environmental impact, the FlowER battery intrinsically participate in reducing electronic waste (e-waste: one of the current fastest growing waste streams). On the other hand, if connected to (future) biodegradable sensors for PA, it will also directly participate in reducing agrochemical pollution by helping the grower to use agrochemicals solely at the right place and at the right time.
As such, the FlowER battery represents a concrete step with a positive contribution in fighting against the impact of human activities on the environment.