Category: Everything

A recently published research paper in Nature Photonics, titled “A dive into underwater solar cells,” delves into the potential of utilizing solar power for underwater vehicles. The work is spearheaded by Jason A. Röhr and André Taylor from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NYU Tandon.

Solar Power: A Shining Solution

Various marine technologies like wave and tidal power have shown promise, but their application is often limited by location dependency and lack of portability. In contrast, solar power provides a ubiquitous and powerful energy source, capable of reaching depths up to 50 meters.

The researchers at NYU Tandon have explored the potential of solar cells for underwater applications. They highlight successful implementations in powering Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and communication devices while addressing the challenges inherent to this integration.

Overcoming Obstacles

A significant challenge lies in the design of existing silicon solar technology, which isn’t ideal for underwater use. Beyond the general issues posed by moisture and salt content, silicon solar cells are optimized to absorb red and infrared light—wavelengths that don’t penetrate water effectively.

The team suggests alternative technologies like gallium indium phosphide (GaInP) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) as they exhibit higher efficiency in oceanic conditions. Next-generation solar cells, such as organic and perovskite solar cells (OSCs and PSCs), are also under consideration.

Another challenge is biofouling—the accumulation of organic substances on the cells, which obstructs light access and impedes the photovoltaic process. This buildup also affects submerged vehicles by increasing weight and generating hydrodynamic resistance.

Innovative Solutions

The research team has addressed these challenges with practical solutions. They’ve used LED lights to simulate the underwater light spectrum during testing, thus eliminating the need for actual water.

Their experiments have shown that silicon-based solar cells perform better at shallow depths, while other cell types are more efficient below two meters.

While these specially designed underwater solar cells are still in their infancy, the research marks an important step towards groundbreaking technologies that could revolutionize our exploration of the oceans.

Our oceans are a vast, uncharted frontier, but with the power of the sun guiding us, we might just illuminate its enigmatic depths. The future of ocean exploration is brighter than ever, thanks to these remarkable advancements in solar power technology.

The fabrication technique, developed by engineer David Gracias from Johns Hopkins University, has incredible potential for health applications. Imagine having sensors that can remotely monitor and control the state of individual cells and the environment surrounding them in real time. This technology could potentially lead to the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases by tracking the health of isolated cells, rather than waiting for damage to entire organs.

However, integrating electronics with human biology has posed significant challenges. One major hurdle is the incompatibility between living tissue and the manufacturing techniques traditionally used to construct electronics. Many of these techniques involve harsh chemicals, high temperatures, and vacuums that can destroy living tissue. Gracias and his team have overcome this obstacle by using a technique called nanoimprint lithography, which involves imprinting nanoscale patterns onto a material, in this case, gold.

The process begins by printing nanoscale gold onto a silicon wafer coated with a polymer. The polymer is then dissolved, allowing the pattern to be transferred onto thin films of glass that are treated with a biological compound called cysteamine and coated with a hydrogel. The pattern is then removed from the glass and transferred onto fibroblast cells. Finally, the hydrogel is dissolved, leaving the gold bonded to the cells.

The researchers have successfully used this technique to attach gold nanowire arrays to ex vivo rat brains. The ability to attach complex nanopatterns to living cells without causing cell death is a significant achievement. This opens up possibilities for developing complicated electronics, such as electrodes, antennas, and circuits, that can be integrated into living tissues, hydrogels, and other soft materials that are incompatible with harsher fabrication methods.

The researchers believe that combining nanopatterning with various classes of materials and standard microfabrication techniques can lead to the development of new cell culture substrates, biohybrid materials, bionic devices, and biosensors. The possibilities for this research are vast, and it represents an exciting step forward in the field of integrating electronic devices with living cells.

1. Delete Unused Apps: Start by going through your apps and uninstalling those that you no longer use. You’d be surprised at how much space this can free up. To do this, go to your Settings, select “General,” then “iPhone Storage,” and review the list of apps. Tap on any app you want to delete and select “Delete App.”

2. Clear App Cache: Instead of uninstalling apps, you can also clear their cache to free up space. This is especially useful for apps that accumulate a lot of cache data over time. To clear app cache, go to your Settings, select the app you want to clear the cache for, and look for the option to reset the cache.

3. Delete Photos and Texts: Photos and text messages can take up a significant amount of space on your iPhone. Go through your camera roll and delete any duplicate or unnecessary photos. You can also consider using cloud storage services like Google Photos to store your photos instead of keeping them on your phone. Additionally, delete older text message conversations that you no longer need.

4. Be Mindful of Downloads: Be cautious about downloading large files, such as music albums or audiobooks, as they can quickly eat up your storage space. Instead, consider streaming music or using cloud-based services for storing media files.

5. Clear Browser Cache: Your web browser also stores data in its cache, which can take up some space on your device. To clear your browser cache, go to your browser’s settings and look for the option to clear history and data.

By following these five tips, you should be able to free up some valuable storage space on your iPhone and improve its overall performance. Enjoy a clutter-free and optimized device!