How made-in-NTU technologies are changing our future
by Lester Kok / Illustrations and animations by Vivian Lim
Paper-thin batteries
Now
Scientists have found a way to print the cathode and anode – the positive and negative sides of a battery – on opposite sides of a piece of paper. The cellulose part of the battery is treated with a hydrogel and acts like a separator to prevent any short circuits. The result is a battery that is as thin as a strand of human hair, and which can be folded, cut, bent or twisted without any loss of performance.
Future
Batteries will be more sustainable and modular. Imagine big sheets of batteries printed like newspapers and cut down to size to fit various electronic devices. The batteries can also be manufactured cheaply at room temperature without using harsh chemicals or additional packaging. This makes them non-toxic and a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. Cheaper and greener batteries, anyone?
Rough roads won’t faze this bot
Now
Engineers from Schaeffler are working with NTU scientists to develop new robots that could change the way cargo is delivered. Conventional four-wheeled robots face challenges going up high slopes or humps. Rough rides could also lead to damaged goods. Enter new robots with retractable legs on wheels, like dogs on roller skates, with the ability to go over humps and uneven ground while keeping their cargo flat and balanced.
Future
With robo-delivery being the norm in future, expect to see humans using such smart, agile bots to transport cargo autonomously. Humans can beckon the bots to follow them from a distance, like how a dog would. Equipped with crane arms, the delivery bots can easily grasp and load objects on their own.
As clear as day
Now
A new type of coating that can break down bacteria and dirt when exposed to sunlight could give traffic cameras clear vision for years. Developed by NTU scientists, this new coating for plastics comprises a double-layered silicon dioxide-titanium dioxide film that reacts with the ultraviolet rays in sunlight to break down organic residue. It is also able to spread water droplets more quickly, thus reducing fogging from condensation when water droplets on surfaces scatter light and reduce visibility.
Future
With the new coating used in plastic lenses in spectacles, mobile cameras and web cams, cleaning your glasses and gadgets could be a thing of the past. And with the lens coating’s antimicrobial properties killing most bacteria and viruses, even the dreaded COVID-19 virus, there’s one less thing to worry about.
This story was published in the Jun-Aug 2022 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
