Multisource energy conversion in plants with soft epicuticular coatings

Abstract

Turning common plants into devices harvesting electricity from wind and radio frequency radiation endows a surprising prospect for energy-autonomous sensors.

Exploration of the charge transport mechanism, complex impedance, dielectric/electric modulus and energy storage characteristics of the aloe vera (Aloe Barbadensis Miller) plant

“…Biohybrid systems use plants as integral parts of a device or functionalize plants with smart materials and transform them into biohybrid devices. Biohybrids have a wide range of applications including energy harvesting, self-organized electronics and plant nanobionics [12][13][14][15]. Thus, recent research by Alluri et al [16] has focused on using Aloe vera gel as an active component of a piezo-electric energy harvester, while Mousa et al [17] used Aloe vera pulp to design a soft e-skin biohybrid for tactile sensing.…”

Device for Simultaneous Wind and Raindrop Energy Harvesting Operating on the Surface of Plant Leaves

“…[8]- [10] The use of living plant leaves reduces the consumption of artificial materials as part of the triboelectric pair. [8], [11]- [13] However, extreme environments like high humidity or wet surfaces reduce the ability of two contacting materials to charge triboelectrically. Although the effect is reversible in dry environments, improvements are required to counterbalance the adverse effect of rainfall, especially when envisioning outdoor applications.…”

Wind dynamics and leaf motion: Approaching the design of high-tech devices for energy harvesting for operation on plant leaves

“…Such devices are either permanently or transiently fixed on a plant leaf where they perform a specific task and have a potential impact on monitoring and preserving plants and ecosystems. Examples are sensors that measure plant parameters ( Khan et al., 2018 ; Jiang et al., 2020 ; Diacci et al., 2021 ; Fiorello et al., 2021 ; Dufil et al., 2022 ); molecule delivery platforms ( Fiorello et al., 2021 ); robots and drones that could use a plant or a leaf as support ( Graule et al., 2016 ; Fiorello et al., 2021 ; Jiaming et al., 2021 ), and, moreover, energy harvesting artificial leaves ( Jie et al., 2018 ; Meder et al., 2018 ; Meder et al., 2020a ; Wu et al., 2020 ; Meder et al., 2021 ; Meder et al., 2022 ).…”