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Seeking new energy solutions from the sea in wave power biofuel and beyond
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Seeking new energy solutions from the sea in wave power biofuel and beyond
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Oct 16, 2024

Researchers are advancing sustainable energy technologies with promising developments in ocean wave power, biofuel production, and catalytic fuel conversion. These efforts, led by scientists at Flinders University, aim to harness marine resources for green energy and improve fuel efficiency.

Flinders University scientists have recently unveiled results from three distinct studies. The studies explore efficient ocean wave power capture, sustainable microalgae biofuel production, and enhanced catalytic processes for engines. A new wave-sensing device, powered by ocean wave energy, has emerged as a key innovation in these efforts.

Nanotechnology researchers at Flinders, including Professor Youhong Tang and PhD candidate Steven Wang, have collaborated with Chinese scientists to create a hybrid self-powered wave sensor (HSP-WS). This device, which integrates an electromagnetic generator with a triboelectric nanogenerator, can detect wave amplitude changes as small as 0.5 centimeters.

"The test results show that HSP-WS has the sufficient sensitivity to detect even 0.5 cm amplitude changing of ocean wave," said Yunzhong (Steven) Wang from Professor Tang's group at the Tonsley energy hub. Professor Tang added that "the data obtained from HSP-WS can be used to fill up the current gap in the wave spectrum which can improve ocean wave energy harvesting efficiency."

Accurate data on wave amplitude is essential for optimizing energy capture from ocean waves. Existing wave spectrum data do not adequately represent waves below 0.5 meters, and radar sensors struggle to distinguish small waves from environmental noise. The HSP-WS aims to bridge this gap and guide the optimal placement of low-amplitude wave energy harvesters.

Parallel to wave power advancements, the team has also made progress in biofuel research. Working alongside aquaculture expert Professor Jianguang (Jian) Qin, Professor Tang's group is exploring methods to boost the production of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a microalga with potential as a biofuel feedstock. The researchers successfully enhanced the alga's growth and lipid content by using an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer to shift the light spectrum for better photosynthesis.

"Mass production of microalgae is a research focus owing to their promising aspects for sustainable food, biofunctional compounds, nutraceuticals, and biofuel feedstock," said Professor Tang. Professor Qin noted that "microalgae-derived polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) remain a promising alternative to stock-limited fossil fuels," offering efficiencies 10 to 50 times higher than terrestrial plants and supporting biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

A third Flinders research team, led by Associate Professor Melanie MacGregor, has published findings on a nanotechnology-based method to improve fuel utilization through electrocatalytic gas conversion. This approach involves using a plasma-deposited hydrophobic octadiene (OD) coating to optimize catalyst surfaces.

"Our findings indicate that these nano-films, combined with micro-texturing, could improve the availability of reactant gases at the catalyst surface while limiting water access," said Associate Professor MacGregor. This method holds potential for enhancing the electrocatalytic conversion of nitrogen and carbon dioxide into green fuels.

Research Report:Plasma Coating for Hydrophobisation of Micro- and Nanotextured Electrocatalyst Materials

Related Links
Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com

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