EPSRC

Flexible silicon solar-cell fabrics may be possible

For the first time, a silicon-based optical fiber with solar-cell capabilities has been developed that has been shown to be scalable to many meters in length.

Flexible silicon solar-cell fabrics may soon become possible

For the first time, a silicon-based optical fiber with solar-cell capabilities has been developed that has been shown to be scalable to many meters in length.

Power generating knee strap

Battery-powered devices could soon be a thing of the past thanks to a group of UK researchers from Cranfield University, The University of Liverpool and University of Salford, who have created a novel energy harvester to power some of the latest wearable gadgets.

Harvesting energy with a musical spin

Research carried out in the School of Applied Sciences at Cranfield University opens up new possibilities for efficiently harvesting energy from daily human activities.

New graphene-based material could revolutionise electronics industry

The most transparent, lightweight and flexible material ever for conducting electricity has been invented by a team from the University of Exeter.

GraphExeter could revolutionise electronics industry

The most transparent, lightweight and flexible material ever for conducting electricity has been invented by a team from the University of Exeter.

New investment will establish the UK as a global graphene research hub

200 times stronger than steel and just one atom thick, graphene is the strongest and thinnest material ever measured, and also the world's most conductive material.

Holistic approach to energy harvesting

The Holistic project joins up three different research fields, including energy harvesting and MEMS processing methods, low-power embedded computing systems, and electronic design automation.

Urine a viable fuel for microbial fuel cells

Scientists at University of West England have published the world's first research paper on work that tested the viability of urine as a potential fuel for Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) in order to directly produce electricity.

High performance energy harvesting demonstrator

The system is designed to harvest energy from wing vibration of aircraft in active service, and then convert the harvested energy into usable electrical energy to provide electrical power for sensors and a wireless communication system.

Breakthrough in low loss high frequency carbon nanotube electronics

A collaboration between researchers at the University of Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute and the Faculty of Mechatronics of Warsaw University of Technology in Poland reports that low electrical loss at frequencies of up to 220 GHz are possible in screen printed carbon nanotube - polymer composites. Producing such low electrical loss materials potentially opens up new types of high frequency large area electronic devices.

Graphene's Big Mac creates next generation of chips

Scientists at the University of Manchester have come one step closer to creating the next generation of computer chips using wonder material graphene.

Researchers develop golden window electrodes for organic solar cells

Researchers at the University of Warwick have developed a gold plated window as the transparent electrode for organic solar cells.

Applying energy harvesters to textiles

Energy harvesters enabling micro-power generation provide new levels of efficiency and automation in the built environment, process control, vehicles and healthcare.

Energy harvesting network

The Energy Harvesting Network held its first one-day dissemination event on 7th February 2011 at the IET, Savoy Place, London. The Network is EPSRC-funded, and is for academia, industry and end-users of energy harvesting technology.

1st Energy Harvesting Network: part 1

The Human Power Workshop was part of the 1st Energy harvesting Network funded by the EPSRC to establish a network to contribute to the debate that will define a new generation of research challenges for Human Power Generation of devices.

Urine powered fuel cells a possibility

A research team at Heriot-Watt University is developing the world's first Direct Urea Powered Fuel Cells targeting applications in water treatment/purification and renewable energy where urea is a problem contaminant.

Development of an energy harvesting film for textiles

Researchers at the University of Southampton's School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) are developing technology that may enable people to power MP3 players and other devices through their clothes and the carpets they walk on.

Autonomous robot that eats sewage

Researchers at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory are working on an autonomous robot, dubbed EcoBot III.

The race for plug and play vibration harvesting

The market for vibration harvesters will increase perhaps one hundred fold when they are broad band so they can be fitted without tuning - or with auto tuning - to the vibration encountered. Ideally they should be made to standard battery sizes and sold as a non polluting, long life battery replacement.