Strategic Elements launches large-scale Energy Ink cell-to-sheet program

Strategic Elements (ASX: SOR) has launched its Energy Ink cell-to-sheet program aimed at creating larger-scale prototypes and demonstrators with significantly increased energy generated from moisture.

The program is led by Strategic’s wholly-owned venture Australian Advanced Materials in collaboration with a research team from investee company Stealth Technologies, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and a commercial printed electronics facility.

It will use automated printed electronics machinery in commercial facilities to produce A4-sized sheets of ultra-thin cells, progressing toward stacking large numbers of sheets vertically to enhance energy output.

‘Revolutionary technology’

Energy Ink has been described as a revolutionary technology that generates energy from moisture, designed for potential use in renewable energy generation.

The research team investigated multiple automated machinery and printing technologies capable of producing Energy Ink cells with high precision, selecting several hybrid methods that combine commercial deposition machinery and screen printing for trial.

Preparatory work for the trial required an overhaul of the Energy Ink formulation, including an increased batch size of upgraded ink to the multi-litre range, a significantly larger cell size, a transition to commercial suppliers for circuitry ink and materials and a new cell layout structure.

This work has been completed, with testing about to commence at UNSW and in a commercial facility.

Transformative move

Managing director Charles Murphy said the shift from small individual cells in a laboratory to a commercial facility capable of fabricating A4-sized sheets would be transformative for the Energy Ink technology.

“This transition will boost scalability, reduce time, improve consistency, increase testing throughput and enhance the optimisation of materials and processes,” he said.

“Ultimately, it will enable the creation of larger-scale prototypes and demonstrators with significantly increased energy generated from moisture.”

Moisture to power

Energy Ink technology focuses on harvesting energy from moisture in the air (or humidity) and converting it into electrical power.

The ultra-thin, lightweight cells employ safe, non-flammable, environmentally friendly materials and do not require sunlight to generate energy.

The technology is still at an early stage and must overcome significant hurdles — including duration, shelf life, corrosion and transitioning from prototypes to a more extensive, integrated system — before achieving technical feasibility.

Power density tests

Strategic reported in November that early testing of the Energy Ink technology had achieved unprecedented power density, a measure of how much power can be produced in a given area and a crucial metric for comparing emerging technologies with established systems.

In laboratory conditions, a 1-square-centimetre prototype high-powered Energy Ink cell was tested alongside cells used in commercial solar panels and demonstrated a high level of power density.

Mr Murphy said Energy Ink’s unique attributes potentially allow it to complement — not compete with — solar or act as a solution for renewable energy where solar is not practical.