Fully direct written organic micro-thermoelectric generators embedded in a plastic foil

Organic materials have attracted great interest for thermoelectric applications due to their tuneable electronic properties, solution processability and earth-abundance, potentially enabling high-throughput realization of low-cost devices for low-power energy harvesting applications. So far, organic thermoelectricity has primarily focused on materials development, with less attention given to integrated generators. Yet, future applications will require the combination of efficient generators architectures and scalable manufacturing techniques to leverage the advantages of such promising materials. Here we report the realization of a monolithic organic micro-thermoelectric generator (μ-OTEG), using only direct writing methods, embedding the thermoelectric legs within a plastic substrate through a combination of direct laser writing and inkjet printing techniques. Employing PEDOT:PSS for the p-type legs and a doped fullerene derivative for the n-type ones, we demonstrate a μ-OTEG with power density of 30.5 nW/cm2 under small thermal gradients, proving the concrete possibility of achieving power requirements of low-power, distributed sensing applications

Challenges in public perception: highlights from the United Kingdom-Brazil Dementia Workshop

In July 2019, Belo Horizonte hosted an international workshop for 27 junior researchers, whose participants were from Brazil and the United Kingdom. This three-day meeting organized by the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais and the University of East Anglia addressed challenges in cognitive impairment and dementia, with particular interest in public perceptions, diagnosis and care management. The purpose of this report is to highlight the outcomes of the above-mentioned workshop regarding the topic of public perceptions (part I). Discussions focused on differences and similarities between countries, as well as on identifying main issues that required collaborative and creative solutions. After these group discussions, four core themes emerged: I) cognitive impairment; II) dementia - beyond Alzheimer's disease; III) prevention; and IV) stigma. National and international initiatives to deal with public misperceptions about cognitive impairment and dementia were discussed

Fully direct written organic micro-thermoelectric generators embedded in a plastic foil

Organic materials have attracted great interest for thermoelectric applications due to their tuneable electronic properties, solution processability and earth-abundance, potentially enabling high-throughput realization of low-cost devices for low-power energy harvesting applications. So far, organic thermoelectricity has primarily focused on materials development, with less attention given to integrated generators. Yet, future applications will require the combination of efficient generators architectures and scalable manufacturing techniques to leverage the advantages of such promising materials. Here we report the realization of a monolithic organic micro-thermoelectric generator (μ-OTEG), using only direct writing methods, embedding the thermoelectric legs within a plastic substrate through a combination of direct laser writing and inkjet printing techniques. Employing PEDOT:PSS for the p-type legs and a doped fullerene derivative for the n-type ones, we demonstrate a μ-OTEG with power density of 30.5 nW/cm2 under small thermal gradients, proving the concrete possibility of achieving power requirements of low-power, distributed sensing applications

EPR and electrochemistry of [NH4]trans-[RuCl4(DMSO)(L)] complexes (L = DMSO, py ). X-ray molecular structure of [pyH][RuCl4(DMSO)(py)]

The [(DMSO)2H]trans-[RuCl4 (DMSO)2] complex presents an axial symmetry in the solid state and its EPR spectrum shows two g values (g^ or = 2,35 e g// or = 1,87). The complex [NH4]trans-[RuCl4(DMSO) 2] presents only one-g value in the solid state EPR spectrum indicating coupling of micro-aggregates. In a fresh solution of MeOH it is possible to detect the [NH4]trans-[RuCl4(DMSO)(MeOH)] and [RuCl3(DMSO)(MeOH)2] by EPR. After approximately 15 h only the latter complex is detected in solution. These species are also detected by cyclic voltammetry and the [RuCl2(DMSO)(MeOH)3] complex is generated electrochemically from [RuCl3(DMSO)(MeOH)2]. The [pyH]trans-[RuCl4(DMSO)(py)] was obtained from the reaction of [(DMSO)2H]trans-[RuCl4(DMSO) 2] with py, and was crystallized in the space group P (No.2), Z=2 with a=7.7608(1), b=8.5451(1), c=15.095(5)Å, beta=79.33(2)º. The structure was solved by Patterson and difference Fourier techniques and refined to R = 0.0886. EPR (T = -160 ºC) data confirmed the presence of the paramagnetically active Ru(III), consistent with the axial symmetry of the complex. The cyclic voltamogram of the pyridine complex shows a redox potential with E1/2 = - 0.15 V (vs. Ag/AgCl)