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 Artificial Leaves
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.
Expected Outcomes
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. This will have a cross-disciplinary impact in:
- Materials science
- Environmental sensing and robotics
- Smarter agriculture
- 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
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MANUNKIND: Determinants and Dynamics of Collaborative Exploitation
This project aims to develop a game theoretic framework to analyze the psychological and strategic dynamics of collaborative exploitation, informing policies to combat modern slavery.
Elucidating the phenotypic convergence of proliferation reduction under growth-induced pressure
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This project aims to develop a normative theory of loneliness by analyzing ethical responsibilities of individuals and societies to prevent and alleviate loneliness, establishing a new philosophical sub-field.
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Vergelijkbare projecten uit andere regelingen
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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 STG | € 1.500.000 | 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 STG | € 1.684.046 | 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 STG | € 1.499.477 | 2022 | Details |
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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.
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.
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.
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.