The batteries of portable electronics are tough and relatively short-lived, and wireless charging works over short distances. The new generator offers something different.
Binghamton University professor Seokhyun Choi, associate professor Anwar Elhadad, and Ph.D. candidate Yang Gao have developed a new method of extracting moisture from the air and converting it into electricity. The team has described a portable paper-based generator that will provide long-lasting, high-efficiency power output by capturing moisture.
«In the future, wearable electronics will use energy harvesting methods, but right now these methods are very unstable in time, random in location, and inefficient. The reason why I became interested in this topic is because moisture is ubiquitous in our air, and I realized that it is very easy to get energy from moisture», — says Prof. Choi.
Adapting the knowledge gained by the Laboratory of Bioelectronics and Microsystems about biobatteries over the past 15 years, the generator uses bacterial spores as a functional group that splits water molecules into positive and negative ions.
The paper’s capillaries absorb spores, which creates a separation with more positive ions on top than on the bottom — this imbalance leads to an electrical charge.
Moisture absorption is improved by adding a layer of Janus paper, which is hydrophobic on one side and hydrophilic on the other. It attracts water molecules and holds them inside the device for further separation into ions.
Potential improvements to the technology include increasing the power output, developing a method of energy storage, and integrating with other energy sources. Prof. Choi also hopes to reduce the device to the same scale as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).
«The size of a single device is too big for me. I’m a MEMS guy! By shrinking each individual unit and connecting more cells within a small area, we can greatly improve the power density. Also, since we are using paper, we can try many other ideas, including origami techniques» — jokes the professor.
While other researchers are developing long-term wearable devices, Choi is trying to go in the opposite direction, focusing on disposable devices.
«I don’t want to wear something all day for four months. I want to use it for a while and then throw it away, so in this case paper is best».
The study was published in the journal Small.
Source: TechXplore