Self-calibrating digital high frequency low power pulse generator
The invention relates to an asynchronous logic high data rate IR-UWB transmitter operating with a single 31.25MHz reference that robustly synthesizes 1 GHz rate pulses. It operates with a master-slave PLL cascade and a simple static CMOS logic, the master PLL consumes a simulated 1mW power, and it is based on three non-overlapping feedback loops whose switching is controlled by a duty cycling window and a shift register. The transmitter core enables OOK data transmission with a ∼3.1 pJ/pulse energy
Electro-optical Modulator based on a layered semiconductor crystal structure
The invention discloses an electro-absorption modulator based on an ultrathin (sub-nm to few nm) film of a layered two-dimensional semiconductor material. Layered crystals are those that form strong chemical bonds in-plane but display weak out-of-plane bonding. A transverse electric field is applied by at least one electrode on each side of the film, with the electrodes being either transparent or containing suitable openings for the transmission of light.
Bi-stable scalable actuation mechanism based on electromagnetic adhesion
A tactile display for the visually impaired comprising a plurality of tactile pins (taxels) that may be individually actuated to produce graphic figures or Braille lines of characters. The taxels consist of a multi-magnet arrangement connected to the stimulating pin that exhibits two stable positions: either raised or flat. The application of a short duration electric pulse to a printed circuit underlying a taxel brings it to the raised position, after which pulse the taxel remains in said position indefinitely, without the need of further energy delivery. The taxels can be brought collectively to the non-raised position by mechanical action.
A plasmonic multi-tip nano-rectenna cell
The invention relates to a NIR-visible radiation rectification device. The base element of the device consists of: a conical nano-sized metallic structure coated with a plasmon layer, which acts both as antenna and as part of a Metal-Insulator-Metal rectifier system; a thin insulating layer; a layer of conductive metal. The top-down fabrication process allows to construct arrays of precisely aligned nano-cones and to easily customize their aspect ratio for broadband rectification purposes, allowing operation up to hundreds of THz and efficiency values up to 10 times the current state of the art.
Liquid Engineered Systems For Planetary Exploration
The invention relates to a Smart Fluid System (SFS) defined as a device based on organic or inorganic liquid, contained inside a volume by surface tension or by a confining membrane that protects them from harsh planetary environment. Such 2smart fluid as a robotic system” has the potential of offering innovative solutions to mobility, sensing, energy-harvesting, and as energy barrier
Poly-aniline/reduced graphene oxide nano-composites for supercapacitors
The invention relates to a method to produce chemically enhanced polyaniline / reduced graphene oxide nanocompisites starting from a previous patented material is developed. The produced nanocomposite is readily dispersible in some organic solvents and it can be used as ink. This ink can be easily processed by the inkjet direct printing technique and produce devices on flexible substrates. The devices has resonance frequency that can be tuned simply by the number of printing passes thanks to electronic resonance with extremely long transfer rates between reduced graphene oxide and polyaniline. This resonance introduces a discontinuity in the capacitance producing asymptotic divergences to infinity having sign dependent on the frequency sweep direction. Hence devices may be geometrically tuned to operate with desired capacitance (either positive or negative) at the desired frequency
Method for the preparation of polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide composites
A device for harvesting energy from a fluidic flow, comprising a flexible structure including a base layer, a first conductive layer formed by a first conductive material and arranged on top of the base layer, a first piezoelectric layer formed by a first piezoelectric material and arranged on top of the first conductive layer. The base layer, the first conductive layer and the first piezoelectric layer form a crystalline structure including a plurality of pseudomorph portions.
Triboelectric device for energy harvesting
A cost‐effective three‐dimensional soft material composed of at least one conductive material, one non‐conductive material and air gap between them for energy harvesting and sensing purposes, based on the triboelectric and electrostatic effects.
Triboelectric device for energy harvesting
The invention relates to a method for the preparation of polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide composites comprising the steps of: • dispersing the graphene oxide in an acid aqueous solution containing an anionic emulsifying agent to obtain a graphene oxide dispersion; • dissolving one or more oligomers of the aniline, optionally substituted, in an organic solvent to obtain an oligomer solution; • mixing said oligomer solution with said dispersion of graphene oxide to obtain a polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide composite.
A self‐assembling molecular photo-detecting device
Photo-detector device including an active layer adapted to absorb an optical radiation and to generate in a corresponding way pairs of electrical charge carriers, comprised between a first and a second electrode layer including a respective electrically conductive material, at least one of which is a layer of optically transparent material, arranged to be connected to an external electrical signal processing circuit, characterized in that the said active layer includes a self-assembling monolayer of molecules comprising a donor group facing the first electrode layer and an acceptor group facing the second electrode layer, the said molecules being adapted to assume a charge transfer state resulting from the absorption of the optical radiation whereby the charge carriers generated reside separately on the donor group and on the acceptor group and are transferred therefrom to the adjacent electrode layers, in such a manner as to determine a flow of a detection electrical current in the signal processing circuit.
Process for the colloidal synthesis of lithium iron phosphate
The disclosed nanocrystals can be used as a cathode in Li-ion battery.Lithium Iron Phosphate nanocrystals are synthesized by a colloidal method; this synthesis permits to control very efficiently the shape and the size of the crystals. The size of the nanoparticles is below 100 nm. The process of lithiation and de-lithiation could be easier respect to the past due to the small size of the crystals that lead to high surface/volume ratio. LiFePO4 is not a conductive material and it needs a carbon coating. Working with LiFePO4 NCs this step is no more necessary because the electrical conductivity is increased in the nanosized material.
Photovoltachromic device with interdigitated electrodes
The invention refer to an optoelectronic device that can act at the same time as a photovoltaic device, by producing energy by using solar radiation, and as a photochromic disposable, varying color and transparency in response to a luminous and/or electric stimulus.
Energy harvesting microturbine
Energy harvesting is a focal point for autonomous robots. For this reason the department of Advanced Robotics have developed a revolutionary microturbine, able to harvest energy exploiting airflow to produce electric energy. The innovative design uses a reduced number of parts, coupling the turbine and generator into a single component. The hi-tech design microturbine gives unmatched performance in terms of power vs. airflow, reaching regimes in the order of ten-thousand rpm.
Masked Cation Exchange Lithography
The present invention relates to a method for patterning of colloidal nanocrystals films that combines a high energy beam treatment with a step of cation exchange. The high energy irradiation causes cross-linking of the ligand molecules present at the nanocrystal surface, and the cross-linked molecules act as a mask for the subsequent cation exchange reaction. Consequently, in the following step of cation exchange, the regions that have not been exposed to beam irradiation are chemically transformed, while the exposed ones remain unchanged. This selective protection allows the design of patterns that are formed by chemically different nanocrystals, yet in a homogeneous nanocrystal film.
Photovoltaic battery charger for low light illumination conditions
The invention consists of a voltage converter architecture allowing the powering of electronic circuits through photovoltaic devices together with batteries. The invention allows extracting power from the photovoltaic device even in such conditions, making possible for the photovoltaic device to partially contribute to the powering of the load and consequently reducing the energy drained by the battery.
Self-powered Active Glowing Label for Plastic Packaging
The invention relates to a system constituting an active glowing label that is compatible with recycling, can be printed with high-throughput printing processes either on plastic or paper labels or directly on plastic containers (e.g. PET), is compatible with current packaging industry standards and integrates a suitable energy source, enabling energy independence.