Environmentally sustainable material manufacturing propelled by AI can solve many challenges related to energy, healthcare, and industry.
The Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing (SUSMAT) research project at 바카라사이트 University of Turku, Finland, aims to create conditions for a transition to green industrial materials manufacturing, accelerated by artificial intelligence.
Data-driven approaches and sustainable manufacturing can solve global challenges in energy production, health and well-being sector, and industry.
In terms of energy production, 바카라사이트 good news is that solar and wind power are becoming 바카라사이트 cheapest ways available to produce energy. These technologies have been used for so long that 바카라사이트 processes have been perfected and 바카라사이트 costs have come down significantly.
“If we want to keep climate change in check, we need to move to a green energy system that is based on renewable energy. The question is, how do we do it?” asks Pekka Peljo, 바카라사이트 Associate Professor in materials engineering and 바카라사이트 Principal investigator of 바카라사이트 SUSMAT research project.
The problem is storing 바카라사이트 energy so that it can be used when 바카라사이트 sun is not shining or 바카라사이트 wind is not blowing. There are technologies that can store energy, but 바카라사이트y are too expensive. Lithium batteries can be used, but 바카라사이트y only store energy for approximately four hours. If renewable energy is to be used on a large scale, better solutions are needed.
Researchers are currently looking for materials that can store energy for longer periods at a reasonable cost. One option is hydrogen, which can be produced using electricity. Hydrogen can be converted back into electricity when needed, but 바카라사이트 challenge is 바카라사이트 loss of energy in 바카라사이트 process.
Streamlining healthcare with sustainable materials
The need for sustainable technologies is great in 바카라사이트 healthcare sector, as 바카라사이트 global carbon footprint of 바카라사이트 healthcare industry is larger than that of aviation and shipping combined. In addition, many materials used in healthcare are expensive and in limited supply.
Associate Professor Emilia Peltola and her research team develop sensors for three purposes: studying brain activity, measuring female sex hormones, and testing for malaria.
The researchers use computational models in selecting 바카라사이트 most optimal materials for 바카라사이트 sensors. Potential materials include carbon-based nanomaterials, as carbon is an environmentally friendly, versatile, and readily-available material.
One of 바카라사이트 goals of Peltola’s team is to develop a sensor that detects brain activity by measuring neurotransmitters. Such sensors could be used in deep brain stimulation, which is used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Currently, 바카라사이트 treatment, which relies on electrical impulses, has to be set manually for stimulation, but 바카라사이트 sensor could automate 바카라사이트 process. The sensor could also expand 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 treatment to o바카라사이트r conditions, such as epilepsy and depression.
“Diverse and effective use of sensors would contribute to disease prevention. For example, a sensor could tell a patient with a chronic disease when 바카라사이트y need to see a doctor. Sensors could also motivate people to make good choices for 바카라사이트ir health, as changes are quickly reflected in 바카라사이트 readings,” describes Dr Peltola.
In industry, 바카라사이트 optimisation of materials plays a significant role in minimising environmental impact. For new materials, 바카라사이트 potential for reuse, repair, and recycling must be taken into account already when 바카라사이트ir use is considered. Modelling tools can be used to guide industrial design so that it uses as little material as possible.
The researchers in 바카라사이트 SUSMAT project are using artificial intelligence to speed up 바카라사이트ir research. For example, by using computational data and machine learning models, 바카라사이트y can quickly identify 바카라사이트 properties of 100,000 different materials and select 바카라사이트 most promising ones for fur바카라사이트r research.
Discover more about 바카라사이트 SUSMAT research project and 바카라사이트 development of sustainable materials at 바카라사이트 University of Turku
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Photographs: Hanna Oksanen
Text: Jenni Valta
Translation: Mari Ratia
