Microchip powers itself with solar cells
Researchers from the University of Twente's MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology in the Netherlands presented the autonomous chip at this month's International Electron Device Meeting in San Francisco, along with partners from the universities of Nankai and Utrecht.
The development could improve wireless technologies, with the potential for producing sensor chips that could even have small antennas.
Although there would be no reliance on external electricity sources or batteries, the researchers said the chip's energy use must be under 1 milliwatt 1/1000th of a watt.
The chip can collect enough energy to operate indoors, researchers said. According to the online journal Science Daily, tests showed that the chips with the solar cells functioned properly.
To minimize production costs, scientists suggested the chips could be used as a base, with the solar cell layers applied to it later. This process would use fewer materials and increase energy production.
The solar cells could be manufactured from materials such as amorphous silicon, which would produce power in low light without interfering with the electronics.
Related News
IAEA - COVID-19 and Low Carbon Electricity Lessons for the Future
LONDON - The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the operation of power systems across the globe and offered a glimpse of a future electricity mix dominated by low carbon sources.
The performance of nuclear power, in particular, demonstrates how it can support the transition to a resilient, clean energy system well beyond the COVID-19 recovery phase.
Restrictions on economic and social activity during the COVID-19 outbreak have led to an unprecedented and sustained decline in demand for electricity in many countries, in the order of 10% or more relative to 2019 levels over a period of a few months, thereby creating challenging conditions…
