ENERGY

Projet MITEC 1

General Information
The project, led by the MITEC team, focuses on the development of rectennas fabricated on biopolymers substrates. This project is being developed in collaboration with the Transformations and Agroressources Unit (UTA, Univ Artois, ULR 7519).
Project Description
In this project, we are interested in electromagnetic energy harvesting. The general idea is to harvest ambient electromagnetic energy to be converted into electrical energy capable of powering electronic devices for different types of applications such as IoT or RFID devices. The final goal is to realize bio-sourced, flexible, biocompatible and biodegradable electromagnetic harvesters.
Progress and Results
First, we designed and fabricated a RF-DC conversion system operating at two frequencies. Then, we developed the electromagnetic energy harvesting system, called rectenna (rectifying antenna), which results from the association of the RF-DC converter and a dual-band antenna, all carried out on the same bio-sourced polymer substrate (Abdelghafour SID’s PhD thesis). This work was presented at EuMW in 2024. Even if this first system can be improved in terms of energy efficiency, it demonstrates that the proposed material is promising for the development of a flexible and more sustainable RF electronics.
Future Prospects and Developments
This first demonstrator serves as a basis for the development of new devices. There are studies in the literature that propose techniques to increase the output voltage and efficiency, we are working towards their adaptation to biosourced substrates. We are also working on the development of new strategies to improve the global performance of this kind of energy harvesters.

Projet MITEC 2

General Information
The project, led by the MITEC team, in collaboration with the Materials and Transformations Unit (UMET, UMR-CNRS 8207, Univ Lille) and the Transformations and Agroressources Unit (UTA, Univ Artois, ULR 7519), focuses on the realization of thermoelectric generators (TEG) based on bio-sourced materials.

Project Description
The aim of this project is to develop new bio-sourced materials for thermoelectric generators. These materials are being developed by UTA in collaboration with UMET.

Progress and Results
The first thermoelectric generator prototype operating in real condition was realized at IEMN and tested at UMET.

Future Prospects and Developments
In the long term, the project aims to propose a bio-sourced TEG with performance at least equivalent to that of TEGs realized in bismuth telluride.

Projet PLASMOSC

General Information
The PLASMONSOLAR project, led by Kekeli N’KONOU (Physics team), Kamal LMIMOUNI (NCM team), and Mathieu Halbwax (Opto team), is funded by IEMN under its internal project call. It is conducted in collaboration with the XLIM Laboratory (UMR CNRS 7252) in Limoges for device fabrication.
For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Kekeli N’KONOU (kekeli.nkonou@iemn.fr) iemn.fr).

Project Description
The PLASMONSOLAR project aims to enhance the performance of ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) by incorporating core-shell plasmonic nanostructures (CSNPs) into the active layer of the devices. These plasmonic structures increase light absorption while ensuring stability and efficiency. The approach is based on advanced simulations and experimental work focused on optimizing the OSCs' optoelectronic properties. The goal is to achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) greater than 20% at the laboratory scale. The project benefits from the support of the CARBON teams for electrode fabrication, the PCMP and CMNF platforms for in-depth device characterization, and close collaboration with the XLIM Laboratory (UMR CNRS 7252) for device fabrication.
The project benefits from the support of the CARBON teams for electrode fabrication, the PCMP and CMNF platforms for in-depth device characterization, and close collaboration with the XLIM Laboratory (UMR CNRS 7252) for device fabrication.

Progress and Results
The project is currently in the simulation and material development phase, with promising results regarding the impact of plasmonic nanoparticles on the optoelectronic properties of the OSCs. The next step will involve experimentally integrating plasmonic nanoparticles into the active layer of OSCs and finalizing the integration of PI@GR electrodes. The first printed devices will soon be tested, which will allow for the validation of the advancements made so far.

Future Prospects and Developments
In the short term, the focus will be on the experimental validation of the plasmonic devices, particularly on optimizing fabrication parameters and characterizing their optoelectronic performance. In the long term, the goal is to develop high-efficiency printed modules, with 15% efficiency on large areas, and transition to industrial-scale production through the lab-to-fab process for large-scale photovoltaic applications.

Project SOUTENAVIB

dans le cadre du CPER EE4.0 de la Région Hauts-de-France 

General Information
The SOUTENAVIB project, led by Mohamed RGUITI, is being carried out by a team from the Laboratoire de Matériaux Céramiques et de Mathématiques (CERAMATHS), Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France (UPHF), in collaboration with the laboratory of the Institut d'Electronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie (IEMN, Valenciennes site, UPHF) and the ROBERVAL Laboratory of the Université Technologie de Compiègne (UTC).
Starting in January 2025, the project is scheduled to last 18 months. For further information, please contact Sébastien Grondel (Sebastien.Grondel uphf.fr) ou Samuel Dupont (Samuel.Dupont uphf.fr).

Project Description
The aim of this project is to develop autonomous vibration diagnosis systems for electrical machines, integrating innovative approaches to prevent failures and improve their service life. The methodology is based on the use of new types of piezoelectric devices to detect anomalies within the electrical machine, and to self-supply the diagnostic system with electrical energy. Three challenges need to be overcome before these systems can be developed: 1) to test the effectiveness of new piezoelectric devices for analyzing the vibrations of an electrical machine; 2) to identify the vibration energy harvesting and signal processing systems that need to be implemented; 3) to determine their level of sustainability. Initial meetings between the three partners (CERAMATHS, IEMN, ROBERVAL) have enabled a detailed definition of the activities to be carried out on the design, simulation and manufacture of the first energy-independent diagnostic devices. 

Progress and Results
Preliminary measurements have just been carried out by the ROBERVAL and IEMN laboratories, using non-optimized piezoelectric devices supplied by CERAMATHS. The initial results obtained will be used to determine the vibratory conditions of the selected electrical machines, and also to design devices better suited to their frequency spectra. 

Future Prospects and Developments A court terme, l’objectif est d’analyser les performances des dispositifs non optimisés en termes de diagnostic et de récupération d’énergie vibratoire. A plus long terme, le projet ambitionne d’optimiser ces dispositifs en misant sur des innovations telles que le choix de matériaux et de procédés de fabrication à faible impact environnemental ainsi que sur une optimisation de la conception de la transduction électromécanique et de l’interface électronique pour un meilleur diagnostic et une plus grande récupération d’énergie.