Evaporation Driven Hydrovoltaic Generator Based on Nano-Alumina-Coated Polyethylene Terephthalate Film
Collecting energy from the ambient environment through green and sustainable methods is highly expected to alleviate pollution and energy problems worldwide. Here, we report a facile and flexible hydrovoltaic generator capable of utilizing natural water evaporation for sustainable electricity produc...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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Series: | Polymers |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/20/4079 |
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author | Shipu Jiao Yihao Zhang Yang Li Bushra Maryam Shuo Xu Wanxin Liu Miao Liu Jiaxuan Li Xu Zhang Xianhua Liu |
author_facet | Shipu Jiao Yihao Zhang Yang Li Bushra Maryam Shuo Xu Wanxin Liu Miao Liu Jiaxuan Li Xu Zhang Xianhua Liu |
author_sort | Shipu Jiao |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Collecting energy from the ambient environment through green and sustainable methods is highly expected to alleviate pollution and energy problems worldwide. Here, we report a facile and flexible hydrovoltaic generator capable of utilizing natural water evaporation for sustainable electricity production. The generator was fabricated by coating nano-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> on a twistable polyethylene terephthalate film. An open circuit voltage of 1.7 V was obtained on a piece of centimeter-sized hydrovoltaic generator under ambient conditions. The supercapacitor charged by the hydrovoltaic device can power a mini-motor efficiently. Moreover, by expanding the size or connecting it in series/parallel, the energy output of the generator can be further improved. Finally, the influence factors and the mechanism for power generation were primarily investigated. Electrical energy is produced by the migration of water through charged capillary channels. The environmental conditions, the properties of the solution and the morphology of the film have important effects on the electrical performance. This study is anticipated to offer enlightenment into designing novel hydrovoltaic devices, providing diverse energy sources for various self-powered devices and systems. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:56:56Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-be669164fbec4ee7a1224c7941844763 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2073-4360 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:56:56Z |
publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Polymers |
spelling | doaj.art-be669164fbec4ee7a1224c79418447632023-11-19T17:50:51ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-10-011520407910.3390/polym15204079Evaporation Driven Hydrovoltaic Generator Based on Nano-Alumina-Coated Polyethylene Terephthalate FilmShipu Jiao0Yihao Zhang1Yang Li2Bushra Maryam3Shuo Xu4Wanxin Liu5Miao Liu6Jiaxuan Li7Xu Zhang8Xianhua Liu9School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, ChinaCollecting energy from the ambient environment through green and sustainable methods is highly expected to alleviate pollution and energy problems worldwide. Here, we report a facile and flexible hydrovoltaic generator capable of utilizing natural water evaporation for sustainable electricity production. The generator was fabricated by coating nano-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> on a twistable polyethylene terephthalate film. An open circuit voltage of 1.7 V was obtained on a piece of centimeter-sized hydrovoltaic generator under ambient conditions. The supercapacitor charged by the hydrovoltaic device can power a mini-motor efficiently. Moreover, by expanding the size or connecting it in series/parallel, the energy output of the generator can be further improved. Finally, the influence factors and the mechanism for power generation were primarily investigated. Electrical energy is produced by the migration of water through charged capillary channels. The environmental conditions, the properties of the solution and the morphology of the film have important effects on the electrical performance. This study is anticipated to offer enlightenment into designing novel hydrovoltaic devices, providing diverse energy sources for various self-powered devices and systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/20/4079Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>polyethylene terephthalate filmevaporationelectric double layerhydrovoltaic effect |
spellingShingle | Shipu Jiao Yihao Zhang Yang Li Bushra Maryam Shuo Xu Wanxin Liu Miao Liu Jiaxuan Li Xu Zhang Xianhua Liu Evaporation Driven Hydrovoltaic Generator Based on Nano-Alumina-Coated Polyethylene Terephthalate Film Polymers Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> polyethylene terephthalate film evaporation electric double layer hydrovoltaic effect |
title | Evaporation Driven Hydrovoltaic Generator Based on Nano-Alumina-Coated Polyethylene Terephthalate Film |
title_full | Evaporation Driven Hydrovoltaic Generator Based on Nano-Alumina-Coated Polyethylene Terephthalate Film |
title_fullStr | Evaporation Driven Hydrovoltaic Generator Based on Nano-Alumina-Coated Polyethylene Terephthalate Film |
title_full_unstemmed | Evaporation Driven Hydrovoltaic Generator Based on Nano-Alumina-Coated Polyethylene Terephthalate Film |
title_short | Evaporation Driven Hydrovoltaic Generator Based on Nano-Alumina-Coated Polyethylene Terephthalate Film |
title_sort | evaporation driven hydrovoltaic generator based on nano alumina coated polyethylene terephthalate film |
topic | Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> polyethylene terephthalate film evaporation electric double layer hydrovoltaic effect |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/20/4079 |
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