University of Cape Town

Solar Power for Informal Housing in South Africa

For informal settlements in South Africa, access to electricity is dangerous or non-existent, and households rely on dirty and expensive alternatives. Zonke Energy's unique mini-grid architecture provides clients with essential energy services such as lighting, all the way up to refrigeration.

Newton Prize 2020 Award to Fund Solar Micro-Grids in Cape Town

A remarkable project that aims to bring safe and reliable energy to informal settlements in South Africa has won the Chair's Prize in the 2020 Newton Fund awards.

PST Sensors

PST Sensors manufacture printed, flexible, thin film temperature sensors based on a silicon nanoparticle composite ink. They are based in both the UK and South Africa, and also develop integrated sensing systems that utilize their printed thermistor technology.

Automated shark-spotting project

The Shark Spotters, the Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa at UCT and PatternLab SaRL have launched a project aimed at developing a low-cost, computer-vision-based, automatic, shark detection algorithm to be used on fixed cameras above Cape Town's beaches.

Low-impact hub generates electrical current from pure plant power

Green wall technology and semi-transparent solar panels have been combined to generate electrical current from a renewable source of energy both day and night.

Printed Flexible Temperature Sensors: PST Sensors interview

PST Sensors (pty) Ltd is a spin-out of the University of Cape Town NanoSciences Innovation Centre. This interview with IDTechEx was taken at the IDTechEx event Printed Electronics USA.

Printed sensors: an overview

There is an increasingly greater need for a wide choice of sensors to make objects smarter, safer and more responsive. Printing is the natural way to process wet inks and pastes, and it is therefore no surprise that printing has been used to make sensors for years. But there are new materials appearing, taking advantage of the progress that have been enabled by printed electronics. The article gives an overview of what is currently happening in the field of printed sensors. In particular, we will overview main trends in commercialising printed glucose sensors, force and pressure sensors, image and light sensors, gas sensors and temperature sensors. We will highlight key companies commercialising each printed sensor type.

Printed electronics in East Asia: change of direction

Variously called Printed, Flexible or Organic Electronics, it is one of the fastest growing technologies in the world. It is of vital interest to industries as diverse as consumer goods, healthcare, mobility, electronics, media and architecture.

PST Sensors announce current switching transistor

On Wednesday 17th April 2013 at the IDTechEx 2013 Printed Electronics Europe Conference and Exhibition, PST Sensors announced the commercial release of the first new type of transistor in 65 years.

How to manufacture printed electronics - live demonstration

On April 17-18, the Printed Electronics Europe conference and exhibition in Berlin, Germany, will feature "Manufacturing Street" - a live, multi-technology, printed electronics demonstration.

PST sensors at the heart of new temperature tag

A consortium led by Thin Film Electronics ASA has announced the concept prototype of an integrated printed electronics tag which records, stores and later displays critical temperature information.

Highlights From second day at Printed Electronics USA 2012

The second and final day of Printed Electronics USA in Santa Clara really illustrated how far the technologies had progressed and the huge variety of players in the field. The event, organized by IDTechEx, was the best and biggest edition of the series so far. Amongst the attendees were company founders, directors, engineers, academics, but also students and patent attorneys. In particular, there were a large number of end users attending the show.

Thinfilm & PST Sensors join to develop printed temperature tags

Disposable electronic sensor system to tap into existing, large and fast growing markets; improve food safety and reduce waste.