Experts in Germany and elsewhere are using the results of electrifying the friction of water flow at the nanoscale level to power sensors and other technology without batteries.
Innovation at the Hamburg University of Technology and other institutions around Europe relies on pressure and friction, according to a news release.
“The technology paves the way for autonomous, maintenance-free sensor systems – for example water detection, sports, and health monitoring in smart clothing, or haptic robotics, where touch or motion directly generates an electrical signal,” said Hamburg researcher Manuel Brinker.
The invention generates energy by forcing water into tiny silicon holes, causing friction as it enters and exits, a process known as triboelectrification. Experts cited vehicle shocks as an example of a setting where the invention could be incorporated, according to the release.
“An important step was the development of precisely engineered silicon structures that are simultaneously conductive, nanoporous and hydrophobic,” Brinker said in a statement. “This architecture allows us to control the movement of water inside the pores—making the energy conversion process stable and scalable.”
Friction-derived power is similar to how electricity is generated when walking on certain carpets while wearing shoes. The person bears the charge until he touches anyone else or other objects.
Hamburg’s device captures the frictional energy created when a fluid rubs against a solid, achieving a 9% conversion rate, the highest ever recorded for these types of generators, according to the release.
“The combination of nanoporous silicon with water enables an efficient, renewable power source – without foreign materials, but using only the most abundant semiconductor on Earth, silicon, and the most abundant liquid water,” said Luis Bartolomé of CIC energiGUNE in Spain.
Other experts are also taking advantage of regular motion and small movements. Students in France created turnstiles that generate enough electricity to power screens in a subway station. An international group of experts has developed a way to harness the energy created by gently blowing wind over water droplets.
It’s all part of the transition to clean energy, starting at the nanoscale level, to transform how we power lights, sensors, screens and gadgets. In everyday life, upgrades like rooftop solar let you revolutionize your own home and take advantage of lower bills and more reliable power.
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Water-friction inventors see their efforts as pioneering a new type of energy-making technology.
“Water-powered materials mark the beginning of a new generation of self-sustaining technology,” experts said in a statement.
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