Τίτλος / Title

Hybrid Energy Harvesting Systems Based On Thermoelectrics and Metamaterials

 

Τριμελής Συμβουλευτική Επιτροπή

Επιβλέπων/ουσα:     Γεώργιος Κενανάκης

Μέλη:                         Μαρία Καφεσάκη, Γιάννης Ρεμεδιάκης

 

Περίληψη / Abstract

The constantly increasing demands for sustainable alternatives oriented towards power generation, particularly in the low-power electronics sector, has necessitated the development of innovative energy harvesting methods. The main objective of such technologies is to harness various forms of ambient energy such as solar, mechanical, thermal or electromagnetic radiation and convert them into electricity, aiming to partially replenish, or fully substitute conventional energy storage means like batteries, downsizing their environmental footprint. A class of particular interest in this field is linked to the development of hybrid energy harvesting systems, which exploit the contribution of multiple energy conversion mechanisms into a unified system, maximizing system adaptability to ambient conditions. Based on the above, and given the rapid development of wireless communication technologies today, the increased presence of excess microwave radiation in the environment provides fertile ground regarding energy scavenging technologies. In this context, artificial structures such as metamaterials could be a particularly robust tool for the development of innovative energy harvesting systems. Metamaterials are manmade materials entailing periodic micro- or nanostructures of defined geometry, designed to exhibit non-naturally occurring electromagnetic properties, such as complete absorption of electromagnetic radiation at specific frequencies, making them ideal for collecting redundant electromagnetic radiation in the microwave regime. The present dissertation focuses on the study and development of hybrid energy harvesting systems incorporating metamaterials, as well as other promising energy harvesting technologies such as thermoelectric materials, piezoelectric materials or even to attempt the implementation of hybrid systems that exploit synergistically more than two discrete energy conversion mechanisms, aspiring to maximize power conversion efficiency, while concurrently exploring novel materials such as metamaterials.