With top-class facilities, he tested his self-developed flexible piezoelectric nanofiber sensors last summer at MIT in Boston. To find out if they can contribute to the energy transition. Renewable energy is the common thread in Julian Bos’ studies. His project funded by FB Oranjewoud and Innovatiecluster Drachten caught the eye. The result is a scientific publication. On Thursday, Nov. 28, he presented his findings during the ICD Learning Day at Philips in Drachten.
whiskers
In a short video, Julian shows how a seal travels the exact same route that an object swam seconds earlier. He is fascinated by it, because the vibrating whiskers appear to be able to register tiny water movements. That is immediately at the heart of Julian's own research with flexible piezoelectric nanofiber sensors, which generate currents with the tiniest vibrations in water. Julian explains how he designs and eventually makes his own flexible sensors. He demonstrates that his sensors produce electricity by the undulation of the water. ’The stronger the wave the more electricity the sensor produces, in peaks up to 2 volts. That is comparable to the charging voltage of a cell battery.
Energy
But what is piezoelectricity? The piezoelectric effect is the phenomenon that crystals of certain materials produce an electrical voltage under the influence of pressure, such as bending. You would think there would be numerous applications for that, wouldn't you? Julian isn't there yet. ,,Perhaps you can think of applications that use small bits of energy and where it is difficult to replace batteries, for example in the middle of the sea.’’ He sees another possibility for applications in flagpoles, for example. ’’The cord on a flagpole moves continuously, in combination with these sensors you could generate energy.’’ Pulling the sensor through water at a certain speed also generates energy. Or locking sensors in the sea or a river in environments with fast currents that produce water swirls behind obstacles.'' "The more speed, the more current. The sensors are also easy to make, non-toxic and can be used anywhere in air and water.''
six
Whether we in the Northern Netherlands can learn anything from research at MIT, someone in the audience asks. ’’There's no sixteenth grade mentality there,’’ Julian answers without hesitation. ,,Everyone at MIT works until they get the best results, even at night and on weekends. We can learn a thing or two from that with our 9-to-5 mentality.’’ According to Julian, research funding plays an important role in this. ,,For your study you need money and if you get money you also want to show that you can perform. After all, you don't get your scholarship for nothing.’'
In addition to a great experience and research, his time at MIT has brought him into contact with influential people. ’’That looks great on my resume, of course, but what's more beautiful is that I learned that with hard work you can achieve something.’’ So we can achieve that too? ''Students here are not dumber than those studying at MIT, but the level there is higher. Not everyone can handle that just like that. Students here are just as smart, so it's not because of that.''
Julian's study trip was made possible in part by FB Oranjewoud
