SubsidieMeestersEpicuticular electrification: spontaneous charging of materials at the world's largest bio-air interface
EpiC aims to explore and harness natural contact electrification on plant surfaces to develop energy-autonomous technologies for environmental sensing and enhanced plant growth.
Projectdetails
Introduction
The materials on the outer plant surface create the world's largest bio-air interface. Invisibly, this surface spontaneously charges when hit by raindrops and solid materials. This is due to contact electrification, a phenomenon used in technologies like printing and energy harvesting. Yet, extraordinarily little is known about its role in nature and how biosurfaces charge.
Research Questions
EpiC will target two exciting and unresolved questions:
- Can one exploit the generated charges to power high-tech devices at the leaf-air interface?
- How is the organism affected by the electric fields generated on the outer leaf surface?
Core Analysis
The core of EpiC is thus a detailed surface analysis to gain the highest resolved insights in solid and liquid contact electrification of biosurfaces. To achieve this, I will combine studies of materials surface charging, chemical and topographical analyses with observations of cellular responses, plant growth, and adaptation.
Engineering Solutions
This data set will then indicate how to engineer material systems named 'artificial leaves' that can be installed on the plant leaf or sprayed on it to harvest the contact charges for technical purposes.
Potential Applications
EpiC will eventually enable:
- Energy harvesting
- Environmental and plant health sensing
- Communication with robots
- Electrocatalytic reactions - autonomously driven by electricity and reactants from the leaf environment.
Moreover, I will develop additional features in the materials of the artificial leaf to specifically protect the plant and to boost its growth during energy harvesting.
Conclusion
The result of EpiC will be new insights into contact charging of materials in nature, its effect on plant life, and a ground-breaking, energy-autonomous, and sustainable technology platform for the world's most significant bio-air interface with cross-disciplinary impact in materials science, environmental sensing and robotics, smarter agriculture, and plant-based bioelectrochemical systems.
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
| Subsidiebedrag | € 1.999.625 |
| Totale projectbegroting | € 1.999.625 |
Tijdlijn
| Startdatum | 1-6-2024 |
| Einddatum | 31-5-2029 |
| Subsidiejaar | 2024 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- SCUOLA SUPERIORE DI STUDI UNIVERSITARI E DI PERFEZIONAMENTO S ANNApenvoerder
Land(en)
Vergelijkbare projecten binnen European Research Council
| Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Interface-sensitive Spectroscopy of Atomically-defined Solid/Liquid Interfaces Under Operating ConditionsThe project aims to develop novel operando X-ray spectroscopies to analyze solid/liquid interfaces in electrocatalysis, enhancing understanding for efficient energy conversion and storage. | ERC Starting... | € 1.500.000 | 2022 | Details |
Plant based 4D biohybrid systemsThe 4D-PhytoHybrid project aims to create advanced photosynthetic biohybrid systems that integrate living plant cells with electronic materials to develop innovative hybrid technologies. | ERC Starting... | € 1.499.477 | 2022 | Details |
Unravelling the behaviour of inorganic (nano)phases in leaves to optimize the foliar delivery of sustainable agrochemicalsThe LEAPHY project aims to design optimized nano-inorganic agrochemicals for improved crop protection and fertilization by studying their interactions at the leaf interface. | ERC Starting... | € 1.684.046 | 2022 | Details |
Hydrogel Machines for Seamless Living System InterfacesGELECTRO aims to develop electrically conductive hydrogels for bioelectronic interfaces that mimic biological systems, enhancing tissue repair and organoid development through advanced sensing and actuation. | ERC Consolid... | € 1.999.473 | 2024 | Details |
Energy production and storage using biological ion transport systemsThis project develops a sustainable energy storage system using biological components for efficient power generation and storage, aiming to enhance ecological footprint and device reliability. | ERC Advanced... | € 2.858.020 | 2024 | Details |
Interface-sensitive Spectroscopy of Atomically-defined Solid/Liquid Interfaces Under Operating Conditions
The project aims to develop novel operando X-ray spectroscopies to analyze solid/liquid interfaces in electrocatalysis, enhancing understanding for efficient energy conversion and storage.
Plant based 4D biohybrid systems
The 4D-PhytoHybrid project aims to create advanced photosynthetic biohybrid systems that integrate living plant cells with electronic materials to develop innovative hybrid technologies.
Unravelling the behaviour of inorganic (nano)phases in leaves to optimize the foliar delivery of sustainable agrochemicals
The LEAPHY project aims to design optimized nano-inorganic agrochemicals for improved crop protection and fertilization by studying their interactions at the leaf interface.
Hydrogel Machines for Seamless Living System Interfaces
GELECTRO aims to develop electrically conductive hydrogels for bioelectronic interfaces that mimic biological systems, enhancing tissue repair and organoid development through advanced sensing and actuation.
Energy production and storage using biological ion transport systems
This project develops a sustainable energy storage system using biological components for efficient power generation and storage, aiming to enhance ecological footprint and device reliability.
Vergelijkbare projecten uit andere regelingen
| Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ecological SentinelThe EcoSentinel project aims to create a self-sustaining network of digitally enhanced plants to monitor ecosystems and prevent environmental crises through a carbon-negative communication system. | EIC Pathfinder | € 2.909.251 | 2024 | Details |
In-situ & operando organiC electrochemical transistors monitored by non-destructive spectroscopies for Organic cmos-like NeuromorphIc CircuitsICONIC aims to advance implantable AI organic electronic devices for chronic disease management by investigating PMIECs, leading to smart drug-delivery systems with enhanced accuracy and safety. | EIC Pathfinder | € 2.664.940 | 2024 | Details |
Sustainable Textile ElectronicsThe project aims to develop sustainable e-textile circuit technologies using eco-friendly materials and innovative production methods to minimize environmental impact and enable circular economy practices. | EIC Pathfinder | € 2.862.042 | 2024 | Details |
Ecological Sentinel
The EcoSentinel project aims to create a self-sustaining network of digitally enhanced plants to monitor ecosystems and prevent environmental crises through a carbon-negative communication system.
In-situ & operando organiC electrochemical transistors monitored by non-destructive spectroscopies for Organic cmos-like NeuromorphIc Circuits
ICONIC aims to advance implantable AI organic electronic devices for chronic disease management by investigating PMIECs, leading to smart drug-delivery systems with enhanced accuracy and safety.
Sustainable Textile Electronics
The project aims to develop sustainable e-textile circuit technologies using eco-friendly materials and innovative production methods to minimize environmental impact and enable circular economy practices.