GRAPHERGIA D4.3: Preliminary Energy harvesting system

The GRAPHEGIA project was launched on the 1st of October, 2023, for 3,5 years, and it is a research and innovation project co-funded by the European Union. It uses the graphene-enabled innovation for novel and sustainable energy harvesting and storage systems. Deliverable 4.3 “Preliminary Energy harvesting system with regulated 3.3 V output based on μ-plasma systems” was created by the University Gustave Eiffel / ESIEE Lab, under work package 4,” Advanced electrical modelling and efficient power management of TENGs for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing IoT applications.” Read more about the WPs on our dedicated article. Abstract This deliverable deals with the development of plasma switches to optimise the energy management of triboelectric generators (TENGs), whose high AC-voltage output must be rectified and converted into low DC-voltage in a Buck architecture. We first fabricated plasma switches in silicon, operating up to 800 V. They have proven their effectiveness but also show degradation due to intense discharges, in particular for voltages above 400 V. To remedy this, we then focused on silicon carbide (SiC), a wide bandgap material capable of withstanding much higher electric fields and temperatures, preventing local melting and ensuring greater robustness. Three technological approaches (SiC/Si bonding, PECVD deposits and all-SiC structures) are envisaged. Preliminary results with the SiC/Si bonding process are shown.