Scientists unveil method to power devices using air humidity

Source: The post is based on the article “Scientists unveil method to power devices using air humidity”  published in The Week on 20th July 2023

What is the News?

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have successfully developed a technology called Hygroelectricity.

What is Hygroelectricity?

Hydroelectricity is a technology that can harvest electricity from nothing but humid air.

This technology was first explored by  physicist Nikola Tesla and has been the subject of scientific inquiry for decades.

How does Hygroelectricity works?

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.

What are the advantages of Hygroelectricity?

The advantage of Hygroelectricity is its versatility. Unlike other renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, air humidity is continuously available making it a sustainable reservoir of energy. 

Moreover, this technology can be applied to a wide range of materials including wood and silicon, as long as they possess the required nanopores. This breakthrough dramatically increases its potential for broad deployment and scalability.

What are the challenges to Hygroelectricity?

The concept of generating electricity from air humidity is both promising and fascinating.

But some challenges lie ahead such as the nanopore device used by scientists can only produce electricity equivalent to a fraction of a volt. Hence, scaling up the technology to meet practical energy demands is a significant hurdle.