Traditional batteries typically power today’s wearables, but they have challenges, including short battery life and rigidness. Challenges are also found with using wireless power, given its limited range and lack of portability.
Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York have just developed a new method to pull moisture from the air and turn that water into electricity. Published in the journal Small, the team outlined their paper-based wearable device for sustained high-efficiency power output through moisture capture. This paper-based wearable device could provide high-efficiency power output for sensors, drug delivery, or electrical stimulation.
The generator uses bacterial spores as the “functional group” that breaks down water molecules into positive and negative ions. The paper’s capillaries absorb the spores, creating a gradient with more positive ions on top than bottom. This imbalance leads to an electric charge. Adding a Janus paper layer that is hydrophobic on one side and hydrophilic on the other improves absorption, drawing in water molecules and keeping them inside the device until processed.
Potential improvements and refinements include:
- Increasing power output.
- Developing a method for energy storage.
- Integrating with other energy-harvesting techniques.
The researchers aim to shrink the device to the same scale as micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS).
Why It Matters
This new method of generating electricity from moisture in the air could overcome critical limitations of traditional batteries and wireless power in wearable devices. The technology offers a flexible and efficient power solution that uses a simple, paper-based design that produces energy sustainably from moisture. It opens up new possibilities for powering sensors, medical devices, and other wearables without relying on rigid batteries or limited-range wireless power, potentially transforming the future of portable electronics and medical technology.
Original Source: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smll.202408182
