Bateries i piles de combustible de paper : l'energia neta del futur

Conferència realitzada el Dissabte, 3 de Març de 2018Actualment podem trobar rellotges que ens informen del nostre ritme cardíac, de l'activitat física que fem i de quina és la qualitat del nostre son. En aquest sentit, el futur passa per anar més enllà i mesurar no només paràmetres físics sinó també paràmetres bioquímics que ens puguin informar del nostre estat de salut a partir dels nostres fluids biològics. Un requisit d'aquest sistemes es que puguin ser utilitzats per personal no especialitzat i lluny d'un hospital, cosa que esdevé clau per proporcionar eines diagnòstiques a regions amb recursos limitats o facilitar la teràpia per a persones grans i pacients de mobilitat reduïda. Actualment, la tecnologia de microfluídica en paper permet una anàlisi quantitativa o semi-quantitativa que, tal i com passa al tests d'embaràs, es visualitza a ull nu. El següent pas requereix digitalitzar el senyal i si s'escau, poder-lo enviar de manera inalàmbrica al nostre mòbil. Un component crucial per aconseguir aquesta visió és una font d'energia petita e integrable que sigui compatible amb la fabricació, emmagatzematge, ús i final de vida dels dispositius d'anàlisi de paper. L'objectiu principal de la nostra recerca és obtenir fonts d'energia electroquímica d'un sol ús -piles de combustible i bateries- capaços de proporcionar aquesta autonomia a la vegada que siguin respectuosos amb el medi ambient. La xerrada dirigirà l'estat de la tècnica d'aquestes noves generacions de fonts d'energia disponibles i analitzarà les seves oportunitats i reptes

Microfluidic fuel cells on paper: Meeting the power needs of next generation lateral flow devices

Lateral flow test strips have dominated the rapid diagnostics landscape for decades. Recently, the emergence of paper microfluidics has brought new functionalities to these porous materials, and the search for instrument-free point-of-care devices has driven the development of different types of energy sources to fulfill their power needs. This work presents the development of microfluidic fuel cells as paper-based power sources in a standard lateral flow test format. These fuel cells benefit from the laminar flow occurring in a porous material by capillarity to separately react with two parallel streams, anolyte and catholyte, without an ionic exchange membrane or external pumps. It has been shown that the devices are capable of delivering power densities in the range of 1-5 mW cm-2 using solutions of methanol and KOH. The incorporation of a conjugate pad to store the KOH electrolyte in a solid form and a methanol-rich agar gel on top of the reaction membrane allows the fuel cell to function soaking a single sample pad with just water. The presented microfluidic fuel cell approach would enable a more straightforward integration with typical lateral flow test strips and a cost-effective manufacturing. This work represents the starting point in the development of a power source for capillary-based autonomous sensing systems capable of harvesting the energy needed for the measurement from the biological sample to be analyzed. This journal is © 2014 the Partner Organisations.This research was partially supported by a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme and DURSI of the Generalitat de Catalunya under contract 2009SGR00228. N. S. would like to thank the financial support received from her postdoctoral program Ram´on y Cajal. S. R. acknowledges project ENE2010-15381 for financial support. The authors acknowledge the support for the publication fee by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI).Peer Reviewe

Residual Stress Measurement on a MEMS Structure With High-Spatial Resolution

A new approach to the local measurement of residual stress in microstructures is described in this paper. The presented technique takes advantage of the combined milling-imaging features of a focused ion beam (FIB) equipment to scale down the widely known hole drilling method. This method consists of drilling a small hole in a solid with inherent residual stresses and measuring the strains/displacements caused by the local stress release, that takes place around the hole. In the presented case, the displacements caused by the milling are determined by applying digital image correlation (DIC) techniques to high resolution micrographs taken before and after the milling process. The residual stress value is then obtained by fitting the measured displacements to the analytical solution of the displacement fields. The feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated on a micromachined silicon nitride membrane showing that this method has high potential for applications in the field of mechanical characterization of micro/nanoelectromechanical systems

A plant-like battery : a biodegradable power source ecodesigned for precision agriculture

The natural environment has always been a source of inspiration for the research community. Nature has evolved over thousands of years to create the most complex living systems, with the ability to leverage inner and outside energetic interactions in the most efficient way. This work presents a flow battery profoundly inspired by nature, which mimics the fluid transport in plants to generate electric power. The battery was ecodesigned to meet a life cycle for precision agriculture (PA) applications; from raw material selection to disposability considerations, the battery is conceived to minimize its environmental impact while meeting PA power requirements. The paper-based fluidic system relies on evaporation as the main pumping force to pull the reactants through a pair of porous carbon electrodes where the electrochemical reaction takes place. This naturally occurring transpiration effect enables to significantly expand the operational lifespan of the battery, overcoming the time-limitation of current capillary-based power sources. Most relevant parameters affecting the battery performance, such as evaporation flow and redox species degradation, are thoroughly studied to carry out device optimization. Flow rates and power outputs comparable to those of capillary-based power sources are achieved. The prototype practicality has been demonstrated by powering a wireless plant-caring device. Standardized biodegradability and phytotoxicity assessments show that the battery is harmless to the environment at the end of its operational lifetime. Placing sustainability as the main driver leads to the generation of a disruptive battery concept that aims to address societal needs within the planetary environmental boundaries. A biodegradable battery inspired by the transpiration pull of liquids in plants has been ecodesigned to power wireless sensors and then be safely biodegraded or composted, resembling the way a plant comes back to nature at the end of its lifecycle

Hypatia I: a multi-generational and multi-disciplinary crew of female analog astronauts dedicated to space research, scientific outreach, and promotion of female role models in space careers

The low representation of women (~33%) in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers is extremely concerning and cultivates male-dominant cultures across a variety of academic and professional disciplines. In Spain, only 39% of national projects are led by women, thus evidencing the so-called “leaking pipeline”, that is, the tendency of women and other underrepresented groups to eventually abandon STEM-related fields. This social disequilibrium is particularly strong in the international space sector, where women represent less than ~20% of the workforce. The Hypatia I mission —a multi-generational and multi-disciplinary crew of 9 female scientists— seeks to help address this problem. In April 2023, the Hypatia I crew will participate in a two-week Martian analog mission at the Mars Desert Research Station (Utah, United States) with the goal of (i) performing high-quality space-related research in a simulation environment, (ii) conducting outreach and science communication activities, and most importantly, (iii) promoting female role models in STEM-related fields and inspiring future generations of scientists, particularly young girls interested in space career

Hypatia anuncia una nueva misión de mujeres científicas a la Mars Research Desert Station en 2025

Una nueva tripulación de mujeres de distintas edades y perfiles protagonizará la siguiente simulación en el desierto de Utah (Estados Unidos)Peer reviewe

Pile à combustible et dispositif analytique comprenant cette pile à combustible

[EN] A fuel cell comprising: at least one microfluidic channel that allows the capillary flow and, preferably, also diffusion of at least one suitable fluid for generating electricity, at least one receiving absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel, at least one collecting absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel, a cathodic zone coupled to each microfluidic channel, and an anodic zone coupled to each microfluidic channel, where each receiving absorbent region and each collecting absorbent region are coupled to one of the microfluidic channels such that when a fluid suitable for generating electricity is deposited in the receiving absorbent region, it flows by capillary action through the microfluidic channel to reach the collecting absorbent region where it is absorbed. As well as an analysis device comprising one or more of these fuel cells.[ES] Un dispositivo de análisis para una muestra líquida que comprende: i) al menos una célula de combustible que incluye: - un canal microfluídico (10) fabricado de un material de mecha con porosidad adecuada para permitir el flujo capilar de al menos un fluido adecuado para generar electricidad; - al menos una región absorbente (11) de recepción acoplada con dicho canal microfluídico (10); - al menos una región absorbente (12) de recogida acoplada con dicho canal microfluídico (10); - una zona catódica (13) formada por al menos un cátodo acoplado con dicho canal microfluídico (10); y - una zona anódica (14) formada por al menos un ánodo acoplado con dicho canal microfluídico (10), ii) al menos un canal microfluídico (20) de análisis que permite el flujo capilar de la muestra líquida que ha de ser analizada; iii) al menos una región absorbente (11, 11a) de recepción acoplada con dicho al menos un canal microfluídico de análisis; iv) al menos una región absorbente (12) de recogida acoplada con dicho al menos un canal microfluídico de análisis, y v) al menos una zona (21) de detección que tiene al menos un sensor electroquímico u óptico acoplado con dicho al menos un canal microfluídico (20) de análisis, de forma que el sensor electroquímico u óptico interactúa con la muestra que ha de ser sometida a ensayo, cuando dicha muestra fluye mediante capilaridad a través del al menos un canal microfluídico (20) de análisis.Peer reviewedConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España)B1 Patente sin examen previ

Célula de combustible y dispositivo de análisis que la comprende

[EN] A fuel cell comprising: at least one microfluidic channel that allows the capillary flow and, preferably, also diffusion of at least one suitable fluid for generating electricity, at least one receiving absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel, at least one collecting absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel, a cathodic zone coupled to each microfluidic channel, and an anodic zone coupled to each microfluidic channel, where each receiving absorbent region and each collecting absorbent region are coupled to one of the microfluidic channels such that when a fluid suitable for generating electricity is deposited in the receiving absorbent region, it flows by capillary action through the microfluidic channel to reach the collecting absorbent region where it is absorbed. As well as an analysis device comprising one or more of these fuel cells.[ES] Un dispositivo de análisis para una muestra líquida que comprende: i) al menos una célula de combustible que incluye: - un canal microfluídico (10) fabricado de un material de mecha con porosidad adecuada para permitir el flujo capilar de al menos un fluido adecuado para generar electricidad; - al menos una región absorbente (11) de recepción acoplada con dicho canal microfluídico (10); - al menos una región absorbente (12) de recogida acoplada con dicho canal microfluídico (10); - una zona catódica (13) formada por al menos un cátodo acoplado con dicho canal microfluídico (10); y - una zona anódica (14) formada por al menos un ánodo acoplado con dicho canal microfluídico (10), ii) al menos un canal microfluídico (20) de análisis que permite el flujo capilar de la muestra líquida que ha de ser analizada; iii) al menos una región absorbente (11, 11a) de recepción acoplada con dicho al menos un canal microfluídico de análisis; iv) al menos una región absorbente (12) de recogida acoplada con dicho al menos un canal microfluídico de análisis, y v) al menos una zona (21) de detección que tiene al menos un sensor electroquímico u óptico acoplado con dicho al menos un canal microfluídico (20) de análisis, de forma que el sensor electroquímico u óptico interactúa con la muestra que ha de ser sometida a ensayo, cuando dicha muestra fluye mediante capilaridad a través del al menos un canal microfluídico (20) de análisis.Peer reviewedConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España)A1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic

Fuel cell and analysis device that comprise it

[ES] Un dispositivo de análisis para una muestra líquida que comprende: i) al menos una célula de combustible que incluye: - un canal microfluídico (10) fabricado de un material de mecha con porosidad adecuada para permitir el flujo capilar de al menos un fluido adecuado para generar electricidad; - al menos una región absorbente (11) de recepción acoplada con dicho canal microfluídico (10); - al menos una región absorbente (12) de recogida acoplada con dicho canal microfluídico (10); - una zona catódica (13) formada por al menos un cátodo acoplado con dicho canal microfluídico (10); y - una zona anódica (14) formada por al menos un ánodo acoplado con dicho canal microfluídico (10), ii) al menos un canal microfluídico (20) de análisis que permite el flujo capilar de la muestra líquida que ha de ser analizada; iii) al menos una región absorbente (11, 11a) de recepción acoplada con dicho al menos un canal microfluídico de análisis; iv) al menos una región absorbente (12) de recogida acoplada con dicho al menos un canal microfluídico de análisis, y v) al menos una zona (21) de detección que tiene al menos un sensor electroquímico u óptico acoplado con dicho al menos un canal microfluídico (20) de análisis, de forma que el sensor electroquímico u óptico interactúa con la muestra que ha de ser sometida a ensayo, cuando dicha muestra fluye mediante capilaridad a través del al menos un canal microfluídico (20) de análisis.[EN] A fuel cell comprising: at least one microfluidic channel that allows the capillary flow and, preferably, also diffusion of at least one suitable fluid for generating electricity, at least one receiving absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel, at least one collecting absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel, a cathodic zone coupled to each microfluidic channel, and an anodic zone coupled to each microfluidic channel, where each receiving absorbent region and each collecting absorbent region are coupled to one of the microfluidic channels such that when a fluid suitable for generating electricity is deposited in the receiving absorbent region, it flows by capillary action through the microfluidic channel to reach the collecting absorbent region where it is absorbed. As well as an analysis device comprising one or more of these fuel cells.Peer reviewedConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España)T3 Traducción de patente europe

Fuel Cell and analysis device that comprise it

A fuel cell comprising: at least one microfluidic channel that allows the capillary flow and, preferably, also diffusion of at least one suitable fluid for generating electricity, at least one receiving absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel, at least one collecting absorbent region coupled to each microfluidic channel, a cathodic zone coupled to each microfluidic channel, and an anodic zone coupled to each microfluidic channel, where each receiving absorbent region and each collecting absorbent region are coupled to one of the microfluidic channels such that when a fluid suitable for generating electricity is deposited in the receiving absorbent region, it flows by capillary action through the microfluidic channel to reach the collecting absorbent region where it is absorbed. As well as an analysis device comprising one or more of these fuel cells.Peer reviewedConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España)A1 Solicitud de patente con informe sobre el estado de la técnic