A droplet-based electricity generator for large-scale raindrop energy harvesting. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Zong; Yang, Daiming; Zhang, Zhonghao; Lin, Shiquan; Cao, Bin; Wang, Liming; Wang, Zhong Lin; Yin, Fanghui
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 100(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Droplet-based electricity generator -- Large-scale raindrop energy harvesting -- Self-capacitance effect -- Simple open structure; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107443
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Droplet-based electricity generator (DEG) has been demonstrated as efficient method to harvest energy from the natural environment. However, the complex structure and low output power density are still two barriers to wide applications. To this end, by making full use of the self-capacitance effect of the upper electrode, a droplet-based electricity generator with a simple open structure (SCE-DEG) was proposed in this paper. The working principle of SCE-DEG and the effects of electrode geometry and droplet parameters (volume, conductivity, and dropping frequency) on its output voltage were analyzed. Compared with the DEG, the upper electrode of SCE-DEG does not need to connect to the lower electrode and the ultra-high instantaneous peak output power (765 W/m 2 ) can still be achieved by self-capacitance effect of the upper electrode. This research provides a reference for the large-scale raindrop energy harvesting. Graphical Abstract: Droplet-based electricity generator (DEG) has been demonstrated as efficient method to harvest energy from the natural environment. However, the complex structure and low output power density are still two barriers to wide applications. To this end, by making full use of the self-capacitance effect of the upper electrode, a droplet-based electricity generator with a simple open structure (SCE-DEG) was proposed in this paper. The working principle of SCE-DEG and the effects of electrode geometry and droplet parameters (volume, conductivity, and dropping frequency) on its output voltage were analyzed. Compared with the DEG, the upper electrode of SCE-DEG does not need to connect to the lower electrode and the ultra-high instantaneous peak output power (765 W/m 2 ) can still be achieved by self-capacitance effect of the upper electrode. This research provides a reference for the large-scale raindrop energy harvesting. ga1 Highlights: The self-capacitance effect plays an important role in SCE-DEG. The output power density of SCE-DEG was 765 W/m 2 . The circuit model is established to verify the effectiveness of SCE-DEG. SCE-DEG could light up more 100 commercial LEDs with one water droplet.