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Hello readers,
Welcome to the IoT For All newsletter! This week we’re talking about the battery-free future of IoT, global supply chain tracking, cellular IoT cybersecurity, and more!
No battery? No problem.
Installing a suite of IoT sensors often comes with an irritating question: should you hardwire them to a power source, or worry about batteries? There are exceptions, like RFID, but not without significant functionality downsides.
But that might be changing.
A study recently published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science outlines a new application for photocapacitor-powered IoT devices that not only would be able to power themselves on normal indoor light, but also harvest and deliver enough power to potentially run edge AI applications.
The tech is composed of two main parts. First, there’s the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC), which harvests indoor light with particular efficiency. Second, there’s the asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC), which stores the power electrostatically instead of chemically, like a traditional battery.
Using a bio-derived, fungal-based membrane and polyviologen electrodes, the supercapacitor is able to offer a more sustainable and potentially higher-performing alternative to conventional supercapacitor components and maintain nearly 100% of its capacitance after thousands of charge-discharge cycles.
As for the applications, the paper puts it this way:
To demonstrate the real-world applicability of our photocapacitors, we successfully powered a wireless, battery-free, three-layer IoT network for 72 hours using only ambient light. This network implemented machine learning-based edge computing, highlighting the potential for complex data processing in energy-autonomous systems.
While the technology here is novel, the idea is not. The Ambient IoT Alliance was formed to investigate this approach, and research into IoT sensors that can run on waste energy has already been underway for years.
Of course, any technical application presented in a scientific journal needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Just because a given approach is technologically possible does not mean it will be simple (or even particularly possible) to produce at scale or profitable to bring to market with the available materials and manufacturing processes.
One thing is for sure, though: The dream of battery-free, AI-capable IoT is starting to look a lot more real.
📖 Top Articles
The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming supply chains by enabling real-time tracking, predictive analytics and automation.
However, widespread adoption is hindered by three key challenges: data security vulnerabilities, system interoperability issues and high implementation costs. Addressing these barriers requires a strategic approach that can unlock IoT’s full potential for enhancing efficiency, visibility and resilience.
 Industrial companies are contending with more quantity and variety of data than ever before. They need a data backbone that helps integrate data at multiple touchpoints within an organization, across a distributed architecture that includes machines, edge devices, sensors, and more. Enter the Single Unified Industrial Internet of Things(IIoT) Data Ecosystem also known as a Unified Namespace (UNS). |  In our increasingly connected world, IoT devices have brought incredible convenience and efficiency to our lives and businesses. But with this connectivity comes significant security risks, especially for cellular IoT devices. Protecting these devices is essential for a robust cybersecurity plan, as vulnerabilities in cellular IoT devices can be exploited by threats to gain access to your entire infrastructure, that can lead to costly breach events. |
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🔥 Rapid Fire
5G network slicing blooms in the U.S. for springtime
RockBLOCK Pro takes satellite IoT to the next level
Vodafone taps IoT and AI to help protect National Parks
Synaptics launches Wi-Fi 7 chips for IoT with better speed and scalability
Tuya Smart unveils AIoT engines to boost developer tools
🎙️ The IoT For All Podcast
No new podcast this week, but check out our latest episode where we talk to Maor Efrati, CTO and co-founder of Monogoto, about software-defined connectivity. The conversation covers private 5G networks, satellite connectivity, the importance of APIs for seamless integration and automation, SIM, IoT security, and embracing cellular solutions for next-gen connectivity.
🗓️ Events & Webinars
 | GSMI | Virtual Join industry leaders and AI experts at the AI Agents Summit for two days of strategic insights, real-world use cases, and essential frameworks to help you leverage AI agents for enterprise success. September 18-19, 2025 |
 | GSMI | Virtual The AI for Marketers Summit is a two-day virtual conference to help marketers leverage AI tools to transform and optimize their marketing strategy, including content creation, audience targeting and insights, high-performing ads, and more. Join us online November 13-14 to hear directly from brands integrating marketing AI into their roles and teams, with takeaways immediately applicable to your work. November 13-14, 2025 |
 | TechEx Events | Santa Clara, CA From smart factories to digital twins, the potential to de-risk operations while optimising costs has never been greater. The IoT Tech Expo North America will provide invaluable insights into successful projects and their key drivers. You'll uncover use cases you hadn't considered, identify pitfalls you weren't aware of, and most importantly, stay ahead of the curve. Reader discount code: TECHEX20 June 4-5, 2025 |