Optical energy harvesting in vibrate maglev graphite

• Published in: Carbon (New York) Vol. 187; pp. 266 - 271
• Main Authors: Shen, Shen, Wu, Lei, Yang, Shengyi, Yang, Qin, Liu, Jiang-Tao, Wu, Zhenhua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Electromagnetic absorption; Energy harvesting; Graphite; Infrared radiation; Kinetic energy; Kinetics; Light sources; Light-trapping; Lighting; Luminous intensity; Magnetic effects; Optical energy harvesting system; Optical properties; Pyrolytic graphite; Surface chemistry; Thickness deviation; Light-trapping; Thickness deviation; Optical energy harvesting system
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2021.11.016

In this paper, we design an optical energy harvesting system composed of a magnet with a smooth surface, magnetically levitated pyrolytic graphite, and a light source. A periodic force field was constructed by modulating the light absorption of graphite at different positions through the interference of light on the smooth magnet surface and the linear variation of graphite magnetization with light absorption, thereby driving the graphite to vibrate periodically. It is confirmed in our study that this photo-magnetic effect can convert continuous light energy into vibrational kinetic energy, the driving light intensity can be reduced by 3-4 orders of magnitude and the amplitude can reach tens of microns, and the wavelength range of the driving light can cover the visible and infrared light bands, which makes it possible to develop a new type of light-driven micro-nano mechanical motor or light energy harvesting system. Graphite motion amplitude varies with light power when the magnetic field gradient is 1.1 T/m (black line) and 1.2 T/m (red line), the inset shows the schematic diagram of graphite magnetic levitation and interference light field intensity distribution diagram of light absorption and force variation. [Display omitted] •Energy Harvesting MEMS device based on continuous light-driven spontaneous vibration.•The driving light field can be as low as 0.1mw/cm2.•Wide driving wavelength range, enables the usage of the entire spectrum of sunlight.•The amplitude can reach tens of microns with high speed.