Creation of thermofluidic energy harvesting elements to surpass the solid-state thermoelectric energy conversion

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K18693
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 19:Fluid engineering, thermal engineering, and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Li Qin-Yi 九州大学, 工学研究院, 准教授 (60792041)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 高橋 厚史 九州大学, 工学研究院, 教授 (10243924)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ナノチャネル / グラフェン / 発電素子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Throughout this project, we have developed an accurate method for measuring flow in nanochannels with depths ranging from tens to hundreds of nanometers. We have further elucidated the reciprocal relations between capillary filling and surface charge in graphene-coated nanochannels. We have also established efficient methods for filling various liquids into individual carbon nanotubes. These achievements pave the way for a complete understanding of the multi-physical phenomena involving flow, electric and thermal effects in nanoconfined spaces, as well as the creation of an electricity generator utilizing thermofluids.

Free Research Field

熱工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究にて得られた成果は、ナノ空間における流れ、電気、熱的効果に関わる複雑な物理現象の完全な理解を促進し、熱工学および応用物理学の新たな展開に貢献した。また、「熱流体発電素子」の創出の可能性を示し、環境発電およびセンサへの応用は期待でき、脱炭素社会および高度な情報化社会の達成に貢献できる。