Biomechanical Energy Harvesting

Efficient, highly portable energy sources have attracted increased interest due to the proliferation of handheld consumer electronics. While the computational capabilities of mobile technology have increased many orders of magnitude over the past 20 years, the battery energy density has lagged significantly. Batteries add size and weight to portable devices, along with the inconvenience of requiring an outlet for recharging. Fortunately, decreasing power requirements for mobile electronics open the possibility of replacing batteries with systems that continuously scavenge otherwise wasted energy from the environment. Most intriguing is the possibility of utilizing work produced by the human body via everyday activities, such as breathing or walking.

Novel Nanomaterials

The discovery of new materials often leads to a domino effect of scientific progressions. The sequence typically begins with the development of a new material system, followed by fundamental studies of novel physical properties in the material, finally concluding with the demonstration of one or more device technologies which may be revolutionary in scope. The ability to rationally synthesize new materials with nearly atomic control is a key enabler of next-generation materials technologies. These new nano-materials will serve as systems for studying fundamental physical properties on length scales where finite size effects become predominant, ultimately leading to the assembly of a variety of exciting devices.

Bioinspired Transduction

The development of a miniaturized sensing platform for the selective detection of a variety of chemical species could stimulate exciting scientific and technological opportunities. Achieving high selectivity and sensitivity in chemical sensors has until recently had to rely on physical separation methods or spectroscopic fingerprinting techniques. However, the associated instrumentation is limited in portability, precludes the possibility of implantable or wearable sensors, and usually requires skilled human operators. Smart materials which integrate biochemical recognition moieties with sensitive transducers could provide a general system for highly specific sensors. This bio-inspired approach to mimicking the amazing sensory capabilities developed by nature may allow for fully implantable, non-invasive medical diagnostic sensors.