Development of energy harvesting method under water using superhydrophobic surface

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K04732
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 26050:Material processing and microstructure control-related
• Research Institution: 防衛大学校(総合教育学群、人文社会科学群、応用科学群、電気情報学群及びシステム工学群)
• Principal Investigator: Okoshi Masayuki 防衛大学校(総合教育学群、人文社会科学群、応用科学群、電気情報学群及びシステム工学群), 電気情報学群, 教授 (70283497)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 超撥水性 / シリコーンゴム / ArFエキシマレーザー / 空気層 / 環境発電

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we demonstrated that by placing different kinds of minute metals on the surface of silicone rubber that has been made superhydrophobic by ArF excimer laser and immersing it in a NaCl aqueous solution, a uniform air gap layer was formed in the superhydrophobic area, and micro-power generation was realized between the different metals on the air gap side that spans both the air gap and the aqueous solution. We also discovered a new photochemical method that can form an array of hollow silicone microcapsule structures in the superhydrophobic area, and obtained basic results that will contribute to the creation of energy-autonomous wearable devices that can function in seawater and simultaneously perform energy harvesting and micro-power storage.

Free Research Field

レーザー応用工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果により、環境発電とマイクロ蓄電が、NaCl水溶液中で形成する空気層内で実現可能となるため、IoT（Internet of Things）デバイスの適用範囲を海洋まで広げることができる。その結果、持続可能な水産資源のためのバイオロギングや、海水中での可視光通信の発展に寄与できるものと考えられる。