Design and Fabrication of a Micro Flagellar Motor Based Dynamo

我们建议探索一种新的生物启发电源，具有高功率密度和小封装尺寸。微鞭毛马达发电机或FMD是由MEMS装置和大肠杆菌（KAF 95）鞭毛马达的非致病性基因工程菌株制造的微尺度混合系统。这种鞭毛马达是一种纳米级的分子马达，能够产生大的旋转扭矩和高功率输出（相对于其他分子马达）。当拴在一个微加工表面上时，电机以稳定的转速转动，提供了一个自然的机械发电机。FMD通过将鞭毛马达与铜微线圈和微铁磁珠相结合，将这种机械动力转化为电力。由于附着有铁磁珠，拴系的电机产生旋转磁场，该旋转磁场由于法拉第定律而在固定的微线圈中感应电压。基于初步研究，这种感应电压可以潜在地提供与甲醇燃料电池相同的功率密度水平。拟议活动的智力价值拟议项目是朝着为当前和未来的MEMS和NEMS开发有效电源的重要一步。它独特地结合了微生物学和微制造技术，设计和制造了一个紧凑而高效的混合生物/人工动力系统。拟议活动的更广泛影响拟议项目将为大学和K-12级别的学生提供重要的教育机会。在这项工作下支持的UA研究生和本科生将大大受益于微生物学和微制造的多样化经验。为该项目招募的K-12学生和教师将更加了解MEMS和微生物学，这可能会导致更多的K-12学生追求科学和工程作为职业道路。PI将通过他目前作为女性和少数民族工程学生导师的角色积极招募代表性不足的学生。他还将扩大他在NSF-RET项目中的活动，让更多的少数民族K-12教师参与进来。

We propose to explore a novel biologically inspired power supply that has both a high power density and a small package size. The micro flagellar motor dynamo or FMD is a microscale hybrid system fabricated from MEMS devices and a non-pathogenic, genetically engineered strain of Escherichia coli (KAF95) flagellar motor. Thisflagellar motor is a nanoscale molecular motor capable of a large rotary torque and high power output (relative to other molecular motors). When tethered down to a microfabricated surface, the motor turns at a stable rotational rate, providing a natural mechanical power generator. The FMD converts this mechanical power into an electrical one by combining the flagellar motor with a copper microcoil and micro ferromagnetic beads. With the ferromagnetic beads attached, the tethered motor generates a rotating magnetic field that induces a voltage in the stationary microcoil due to Faraday's Law. Based on a preliminary study, this induced voltage can potentially provide the same power density level as that of a methanol fuel cell.Intellectual Merit of Proposed ActivityThe proposed project is an important step towards the development of an effective electrical power supply for current and future MEMS and NEMS. It uniquely combines the technologies in microbiology and microfabrication to design and fabricate a hybrid biological/artificial power system that is both compact and efficient.Broader Impacts of Proposed ActivityThe proposed project will generate significant educational opportunities for students at both the college and K-12 levels. The UA graduate and undergraduate students supported under this effort will benefit greatly from diversified experience in microbiology and microfabrication. The K-12 students and teachers recruited for the project will become more aware of MEMS and microbiology, which can lead to more K-12 students pursuing science and engineering as a career path. The PI will actively recruit underrepresented students through his current role as a mentor for women and minority engineering students. He will also expand his activities in NSF-RET programs to involve more minority K-12 teachers.