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A team of researchers at the University of Utah is reporting in the journal Energy & Environmental Science that it has developed a new type of battery that could someday power a wide range of wireless sensors used in everything from farms to cars.
Specifically, the researchers are reporting on pyroelectrochemical cells, a type of battery that "changes electrical properties when cooled and heated, thereby powering a device based on temperature fluctuations in the environment," per a press release.
The problem with current batteries is that they're notoriously difficult to keep charged, operational, and working efficiently out in the field.
pyroelectrochemical cells, on the other hand, "can harvest ambient thermal energy and convert it directly into stored energy in the form of a super electrochemical or battery with applications for the Internet of things and distributed sensors," says co-author Shad Roundy.
The researchers say the new battery can generate enough charge for practical applications in many industries because the sensors can be distributed and do not need to be charged in the field.
"This development is a massive breakthrough because the sensors can be distributed and do not require charging in the field," says co-author Roseanne Warren.
"This means wireless sensor systems could become totally energy-independent and reduce waste from current energy-harvesting technologies."
The researchers Read the Entire Article
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While philanthropy, social responsibility and corporate governance all already play a role, we will probably see more powerful contributions when companies embed social innovation into their core business strategies and operations.
