Wirelessly powered sensor nodes can contribute to the sustainable development of IoT by using so-called energy-harvesters such as radio-frequency energy harvesters and solar cells. Large-area electronics may enable these power sources.
According to research conducted by an international team headed by KAUST, the internet of things (IoT), which relies on alternative semiconductors like printable organics and nanocarbon allotropes and metal oxides may become more environmentally and economically sustainable. Their research was published in Nature Electronics.
The IoT is expected to have a significant impact on many businesses and everyday life. It links and enables the interchange of data between a large number of smart items of different sizes and shapes, including temperature-controlled factory equipment, self-driving automobiles with sensors that detect obstructions on the road, and remote-controlled home security systems.
This hypernetwork will have trillions more devices by the end of the decade, increasing the number of sensors that are installed.
Batteries are now used to power sensor nodes. However, replacing batteries regularly is costly and can be hazardous to the environment. It’s also possible that current lithium production for battery materials will not be enough to meet the increasing energy demands caused by the growing number of sensors.
Thomas Anthopoulos, a KAUST alumnus, and his colleagues evaluated the feasibility of several large-area electric technologies, and their potential for producing environmentally friendly wirelessly powered IoT sensor.
Large-area electronics has recently become an attractive alternative to silicon-based technology due to significant advancements in solution processing. These have made it easier to print circuits and devices on flexible large-area substrates. These devices are environmentally-friendly compared to their silicon-based counterparts, as they can be produced at low temperatures on biodegradable material like paper. Loganathan says that the team wants to show the full potential of low-power devices by integrating them with sensors and antennas in a monolithic form.
