2020-07-013 - POWERCOAT - Nanostructured fabrics for high performing flexible thermoelectric power generator
Contacts
MF
Acronim & Gínjol codes
POWERCOAT
2020-07-013
Main technology offer
New high-performing cost-effective and environmentally friendly TE material (Thermo Electrical). Nano-enabled easy-to-handle flexible fabrics made of thin-walled silicon microtubes
Ownership
Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain
2008
Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya (IREC)
Public Partners
Readiness Level
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Impact: ESG & SDG Goals
Market Data
The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly expanding, with billions of connected devices and sensors. It will revolutionize our understanding and interaction with complex physical systems. However, the reliance on batteries as the primary power source for IoT nodes presents limitations and environmental challenges. To overcome these issues, compact and low-cost energy sources are needed. Energy harvesting, particularly through thermoelectric materials (TE), offers a promising alternative. TE devices directly convert thermal energy into electrical energy, making them suitable for powering IoT nodes in industrial environments, such as production plants adopting IoT for Industry 4.0. However, the commercial implementation of TE devices has been hindered by the toxicity, high cost, and limited adaptability of TE materials, which have confined their use to niche applications. Additionally, the material used as autonomous H2 sensor can be used for monitoring batteries and detecting thermal runaways.
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Reliable, clean, easy maintenance and low cost energy source for internet of things anodes.
Energy harvesting for industrial IoT and industry 4.0, Sensor of H2 Batteries Agriculture, food industry and packaging
Funding
Development the industrial prototype, testing and scaling-up oriented to the target market.
Industrial partners and IoT manufacturers. H2 sensor producers.
Technology Status
Self-powered devices: no need of maintenance Low-cost, large area production: automated and cheap Flexible material: adaptable to the substrate Environmentally friendly: reduction of hazardous waste Adaptable to any surface
Replacement of gold standard: primary batteries. Finding partner that can produce the technology at large scale and is interested in investing on it.
Patent granted (WO2016ES070421 / EP16744433): ES, BE, DE, FR, GB, NL
Patent granted (WO2016ES070421 / EP16744433): ES, BE, DE, FR, GB, NL
Quality Management
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Additional information
Patents: WO2016198712A1 ; EP3306685 - Date: Dec 15th, 2016 Status: Granted URL: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2016198712A1/ ; https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=EP214447052&_cid=P20-KKO90B-73631-1
POWERCOAT fabric-like thermoelectrics adapt to any hot surfaces leading to a high performance and mechanical properties.The ongoing extension of POWERCOAT technology to room temperature will open the door to a large number of new markets. Agriculture, food industry and packaging are some of the highly interesting industrial IoT sectors that would benefit. Biocompatibility of the silicon material, added to the flexibility of the fibers and the appropriate fluidics to allow transpiration will make them an excellent harmless everlasting power source for body wearables and implants.