– World's first demonstration of wireless communication using power from a low temperature heat source of 100 °C to 120 °C –
Researchers: MUKAIDA Masakazu, Senior Researcher, KIRIHARA Kazuhiro, Senior Researcher, and WEI Qingshuo, Senior Researcher, Nanofilm Device Group, Nanomaterials Research Institute
- Development of a lightweight, compact and highly efficient organic thermoelectric module that does not require cooling members such as radiation fins
- Demonstration that electric power sufficient for wireless communication of measurement data and so on can be obtained from a low temperature heat source of 100 °C to 120 °C
- Electric power can be obtained from unused heat in various locations, which can be expected to expand use of wireless sensor network devices.
Developed naturally cooled organic thermoelectric module, and monitoring screen of wireless communication
Wireless communication technology is essential for IoT, which entails real-time intercommunication of various information. However, it makes no sense if only communication is wireless but the power supply is wired, so development of stand-alone power supply is also needed.
A thermoelectric power generation module converts heat directly into electricity, and is a stand-alone power supply as long as a heat source is present, which makes it a power supply that does not require charging. However, thermoelectric materials with a history of research and development are inorganic materials, many of which use rare elements. Cost and energy needed for manufacturing have also been issues.
The researchers have developed an organic thermoelectric module, in collaboration with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), as part of NEDO's "Research and Development Project for Innovative Thermal Management Materials and Technologies." The developed organic thermoelectric module can be used as a power supply for wireless communication, when it is placed on a low temperature heat source and the other end is naturally cooled.
The developed organic thermoelectric module does not require cooling members such as radiation fins, so it is lightweight, compact and highly efficient. Its usefulness was demonstrated by actually performing wireless communication using electric power generated from a low temperature heat source. This module uses organic materials manufactured by inexpensive processes from inexpensive raw materials, so use as a power supply for various IoT devices such as wireless sensor network devices is expected to expand the use of IoT devices.