FOXES project to develop a zero-emission energy supply system

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of intercommunicating electronic devices. It is the core technology of future-defining concepts like autonomous driving and Industry 4.0. IoT devices often need to be used remotely, without grid connection. The current solution is to rely on batteries, with or without energy-harvesting sources (i.e. a photovoltaic cell). But batteries have a limited lifetime - often shorter than the device itself - and a significant environmental footprint.

The main objective of FOXES is to make a power cube - an integrated 2 x 2 cm2 system, which combines a high-efficiency solar cell with a multilayer capacitor and an energy management circuit. Researchers will use only low-cost and environmentally friendly processes and materials in order to have no negative environmental impact at its end-of-life.

“We chose Barcelona to use the power cube, because it is one of the European cities with the highest NO2 and O3 pollution”, says J. Daniel Prades from the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of the Universitat de Barcelona (IN2UB). “FOXES demonstrators will allow an unprecedented level of spatial resolution in monitoring emissions, facilitating the identification of problematic spots and the implementation of effective countermeasures. We will demonstrate the potential of FOXES technology for improving the well-being of citizens in urban communities”, adds Prades.

The developed technology in FOXES targets all mobile platforms that need to power an electronic and sensor interface – in the transport sector, in industrial settings, and in emergency situations.

Participating partners in the project are the University of Barcelona, University of Wuppertal (Germany), AMO GmbH (Germany), and Uninova – Institute for the Development of New Technologies (Portugal), under the coordination of the Materials Center Leoben Forschung GmbH. Funded by the Horizon 2020 FET Proactive Programme, the project builds on groundbreaking preliminary results of the project partners in different areas of material science, chemistry, technological processes and electronics, and aims at establishing a new technological paradigm.