HYGROELECTRICITY
Hygroelectricity
·
Hygroelectricity
is the generation of electricity from the humidity of the air.
·
It is a
type of renewable energy that has the potential to be a major source of
power in the future.
What is an electrode?
·
An electrode is a solid
conductor that conducts electricity to and from an electrolyte, which is
an electrically conductive solution or molten salt.
·
Electrodes
are used in many different applications, including batteries,
electrochemical cells, and electroplating.
What are nanopores?
·
Nanopores
are tiny holes that are typically on the order of a few nanometres in
diameter.
·
They can
be found in a variety of materials, including biological cells,
synthetic membranes, and even graphene.
Production of Hygroelectricity
·
The key to
harvesting electricity from humid air lies in a tiny device comprising two
electrodes and a thin layer of material filled with nanopores.
·
These nanopores,
each less than 100 nanometres in diameter, allow water molecules from the
air to pass through the device.
·
As these
molecules move from an upper chamber to a lower chamber, they interact with the
edges of the nanopores, leading to a buildup of electric
charge imbalances between the chambers.
·
This
process effectively transforms the device into a miniature battery,
generating continuous electricity.
·
Just as clouds
create electrical charges and give rise to lightning bolts during
storms, this revolutionary device converts air humidity into usable
electricity.
Challenges
· Need to Scaling up the technology to meet practical energy demands.
· Need of R&D to produce electricity effectively at low cost.