There is disclosed a microscale or nanoscale stepper motor in which one or more arrays of corresponding types of optically switchable molecular actuators are used to drive progressive motion between bodies of the motor.

A humidity control device includes a condenser and a water absorber-drainer. The condenser has a first region and a second region. The first region is a region having hydrophilicity and where moisture is condensed. The condensed moisture is moved by gravity to the water absorber-drainer via the second region. The water absorber-drainer includes a temperature control member and has a water absorption surface and a water drainage surface. When a temperature of the water absorber-drainer is in a first temperature region, the water absorber-drainer absorbs through the water absorption surface the moisture moved from the condenser. When the temperature of the water absorber-drainer is controlled to be in a second temperature region by an operation of the temperature control member, the water absorber-drainer drains the absorbed moisture through the water drainage surface.

Spectral tuning of heat source to emit radiation at a desired frequency or frequency band is accomplished using metamaterials. The metamaterials include a structured geometry having holes with dimensions and spacing chosen such that the resulting surface will emit radiation in the desired spectrum. A collector can be made of a similar metamaterial or antenna array to detect the emitted radiation and transfer it to a converter device that converts the detected radiation to electricity. Embodiments also provide efficient coupling to the converter device for energy harvesting. Cooling of the converter devices can be accomplished using a cooling sink or deep space.

Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twist-spun nanofiber yarn or twist-inserted polymer fibers generate actuation when powered electrically, photonically, chemically, thermally, by absorption, or by other means. These artificial muscles utilize polymer fibers non-coiled or coiled yarns and can be either neat or comprising a guest. Devices comprising these artificial muscles are also described. In some embodiments, thermally-powered polymer fiber torsional actuator has a twisted, chain-oriented polymer fiber that has a first degree of twist at a first temperature and a second degree of twist at a second temperature in which the bias angles of the first degree and second degree of twist are substantially different.

Described herein are devices incorporating Casimir cavities, which modify the quantum vacuum mode distribution within the cavities. The Casimir cavities can drive charge carriers from or to an electronic device disposed adjacent to or contiguous with the Casimir cavity by modifying the quantum vacuum mode distribution incident on one side of the electronic device to be different from the quantum vacuum mode distribution incident on the other side of the electronic device. The electronic device can exhibit a structure that permits transport or capture of hot carriers in very short time intervals, such as in 1 picosecond or less.

A thermoelectric conversion element module (101) includes: a heat receiving part (3) disposed so as to be contactable with a heat source; a thermoelectric conversion element (10) having a first surface (10a) and a second surface (10b), the first surface (10a) being disposed in contact with the heat receiving part (3); and a heat radiating part (5) that is disposed in contact with the second surface (10b) and has an inner space (21).

Provided are: a power generator including a dielectric elastomer element with an elastomer layer and electrodes sandwiching the layer; an intermediate power storage including a specific number of capacitors to receive output power from the power generator; a storage unit to receive output power from the intermediate power storage; and a controller for setting control by switching a mode between an input mode and an output mode. In the input mode, some number of the capacitors of the intermediate power storage are connected to the power generator such that a series number is an input series number of less than or equal to the specific number. In the output mode, some number of the capacitors are connected to the storage unit such that the series number is an output series number which is smaller than the input series number.

A thermoelectric module of the invention includes: first and second thermoelectric elements; a first electrode having a plate-shaped body whose first surface is bonded to a first end surface of the first thermoelectric element and a first end surface of the second thermoelectric element; a second electrode bonded to a second end surface of the first thermoelectric element; and a third electrode bonded to a second end surface of the thermoelectric element. The first electrode includes: a first cutout formed at a first side in a width direction; and a second cutout formed at a second side in the width direction. In the width direction, at least one of the first cutout or the second cutout is present in a section between the first side and the second side of the first electrode.

A dielectric elastomer driving sensor system includes: a dielectric elastomer transducer portion including a dielectric elastomer layer and a pair of electrode layers that sandwich the dielectric elastomer layer, where the pair of electrode layers include a driving region and a sensor region that are partitioned from each other; a power supply unit that applies a voltage to the driving region; a detection unit that detects a change in capacitance in the sensor region; and a control unit that controls the power supply unit and the detection unit. With this configuration, both the driving function and the sensor function can be performed.

A dielectric elastomer driving sensor system includes: a dielectric elastomer transducer portion including a dielectric elastomer layer and a pair of electrode layers that sandwich the dielectric elastomer layer, where the pair of electrode layers include a driving region and a sensor region that are partitioned from each other; a power supply unit that applies a voltage to the driving region; a detection unit that detects a change in capacitance in the sensor region; and a control unit that controls the power supply unit and the detection unit. With this configuration, both the driving function and the sensor function can be performed.