Disclosed are oligomeric machines for energy harvesting having a first oligomeric module having a first end and a second end, a second oligomeric module having a first end and a second end. Exemplary oligomeric machines are configured to exhibits stochastic resonance and/or spontaneous vibrations and are configured such that in response to a prescribed amount of energy applied thereto, relative movement occurs between the first oligomeric module and the second oligomeric module in a manner causing the mechanical action of the second oligomeric module on an electric generating element to produce an electrical voltage and/or current. Also disclosed are energy harvesting cells having a thermal cell, a mechanical-electrical transducer with at least two capacitor plates, and at least one oligomeric machine.

Technology disclosed herein provides a cannula TCP actuator comprising an annealed microtube assembly including a polymer microtube having inserted therein a resistive heating wire such that the resistive heating wire extends through the length of the polymer microtube, wherein the microtube assembly is arranged in a twisted and coiled tube. The cannula TCP actuator is fabricated by inserting a resistive heating wire into the polymer microtube, forming a microtube assembly by applying a longitudinal force to a first end of the polymer microtube in a direction parallel to a center axis of the polymer microtube and in an opposite direction relative to a second end of the polymer microtube, and applying a rotational force to the second end of the polymer microtube during application of the longitudinal force to cause the polymer microtube to twist and coil about the center axis, and annealing the microtube assembly.

An energy storage system includes a pneumatic vessel, a cable system attached to the vessel, a compressor for pressurizing the vessel, a generator attached to the cable system, a turboexpander generator for receiving compressed air from the vessel, and a control system. The system deflates and allows the vessel to sink in a body of water, inflates the vessel to store energy when an abundance of it exists, and allows the inflated vessel to resurface to release its buoyant energy to the generator via the cable system and to release compressed air to the turboexpander generator to generate electricity when electricity demand is high and/or electricity generation from other sources is low.

A heterogeneous graphene oxide wet generator and a preparation method are provided. A heterogeneous graphene oxide wet generator includes an integrated forming heterostructure composed of the first part and the second part arranged in the left-right position or the up-down position, the material of the first part is graphene oxide, and the material of the second part is reduced graphene oxide. The heterogeneous graphene oxide wet generator provided by the invention has high open circuit voltage, excellent cycle stability, and has the potential to be applied to flexible batteries, after a series-parallel connection, a generator set with a high voltage can be obtained, and a reduction device can be installed on the industrial coating line for preparing graphene oxide, which is expected to be mass-produced.

Provided are devices and methods that combine material anisotropy with nonlinear structural design to produce structures that precisely and sequentially actuate in response to multiple stimuli, such as water or non-polar solvents. These devices and methods can include bistable anisotropic elements that convert to monostable element upon exposure to a particular stimulus, and anisotropic distortions can be harnessed to change the geometric properties of the element to cross phase boundaries and trigger shape changes at precise times. One can incorporate complex logic into these devices and methods.

An energy storage system includes a pneumatic vessel, a cable system attached to the vessel, a compressor for pressurizing the vessel, a generator attached to the cable system, a turboexpander generator for receiving compressed air from the vessel, and a control system. The system deflates and allows the vessel to sink in a body of water, inflates the vessel to store energy when an abundance of it exists, and allows the inflated vessel to resurface to release its buoyant energy to the generator via the cable system and to release compressed air to the turboexpander generator to generate electricity when electricity demand is high and/or electricity generation from other sources is low.

A pop-up apparatus is provided. The pop-up apparatus includes a base unit arranged on a reference surface and having a hollow portion formed therein, a pop-up unit formed to surround the base unit and reciprocating with respect to the base unit, a connection unit arranged on an upper end of the pop-up unit, a holder unit connected to the pop-up unit by the connection unit and configured to hold an object, and a gas generation unit arranged inside the base unit and configured to generate gas, wherein internal pressure of the base unit may increase due to the gas generated from the gas generation unit and the pop-up unit may be lifted.

Apparatuses for utilizing transient pressures inherent in water mains to generate electrical power and methods of using the same. A solid-state energy harvester device comprises a cylindrical body configured to be installed inline with a fluid-carrying pipe system and defining a fluid path, a flexible sleeve disposed inside the cylindrical body and encompassing the fluid path, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements integrated into the flexible sleeve. The cylindrical body, flexible sleeve, and plurality of piezoelectric elements are configured such that transient pressures in the fluid flowing through the fluid path cause the flexible sleeve to flex and bend, exciting the plurality of piezoelectric elements to produce an electric current.

A thermochemical engine that includes a reaction chamber having a nitrite source inlet, an ammonium source inlet, and a gas outlet, and a gas-driven energy transducer coupled to the reaction chamber such that a gas produced in the reaction chamber moves the gas-driven energy transducer in a process of exiting the reaction chamber via the gas outlet. The thermochemical engine is configured to produce the gas under pressure by reacting in the reaction chamber a nitrite source comprising a nitrite ion and an ammonium source comprising an ammonium ion in the presence of water at a reaction temperature of 50 to 150 C.