Circadian humidity fluctuation induced capillary flow for sustainable mobile energy

Jiayue Tang, Yuanyuan Zhao, Mi Wang, Dianyu Wang, Xuan Yang, Ruiran Hao, Mingzhan Wang, Yanlei Wang, Hongyan He (), John H. Xin and Shuang Zheng ()
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Jiayue Tang: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Yuanyuan Zhao: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Mi Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Dianyu Wang: Beihang University
Xuan Yang: Beihang University
Ruiran Hao: Yellow River Conservancy Technical Institute
Mingzhan Wang: University of Chicago
Yanlei Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hongyan He: Chinese Academy of Sciences
John H. Xin: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Shuang Zheng: City University of Hong Kong

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Circadian humidity fluctuation is an important factor that affects human life all over the world. Here we show that spherical cap-shaped ionic liquid drops sitting on nanowire array are able to continuously output electricity when exposed to outdoor air, which we attribute to the daily humidity fluctuation induced directional capillary flow. Specifically, ionic liquid drops could absorb/desorb water around the liquid/vapor interface and swell/shrink depending on air humidity fluctuation. While pinning of the drop by nanowire array suppresses advancing/receding of triple-phase contact line. To maintain the surface tension-regulated spherical cap profile, inward/outward flow arises for removing excess fluid from the edge or filling the perimeter with fluid from center. This moisture absorption/desorption-caused capillary flow is confirmed by in-situ microscope imaging. We conduct further research to reveal how environmental humidity affects flow rate and power generation performance. To further illustrate feasibility of our strategy, we combine the generators to light up a red diode and LCD screen. All these results present the great potential of tiny humidity fluctuation as an easily accessible anytime-and-anywhere small-scale green energy resource.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28998-y

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