A Direct Current Self-Sustained Moisture-Electric Generator with 1D/2D Hierarchical Nanostructure for Continuous Operation of Off-Grid Electronics.

Abstract

Ubiquitous moisture is a colossal reservoir of clean energy, and the emergence of moisture-electric generators (MEGs) is expected to provide direct power support for off-grid electronic devices anytime and anywhere. However, most MEGs rely on auxiliary energy storage devices and rectifier circuits to drive small electronic devices, which hinder scalability and widespread deployment, and the development of direct current (DC) MEGs with high power output that can directly drive off-grid electronic devices is highly promising but challenging. Herein, a self-sustained moisture-electric generator (SMEG) with a hierarchical nanostructure based on one-dimensional (1D) negatively charged nanofibers and two-dimensional (2D) conductive nanosheets was demonstrated to generate continuous DC electricity from atmospheric humidity. Sulfation of bacterial cellulose nanofibers lowers the surface potential and increases the surface charge energy, and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) provides a conduction pathway for electrons. The hierarchical nanostructures constructed by the combination of 1D nanofibers and 2D nanosheets endow the SMEG with self-sustained moisture gradients and structural anisotropy, which force the generation of a pseudocurrent. This combination also constructs microcapacitors that further enhance the moisture-electric power output. The SMEG can generate a continuous voltage in excess of 0.54 V for over 2160 h, with a power density of about 822 μW cm-3, demonstrating excellent operational durability. This research provides a feasible solution for the development of sustainable, versatile, and efficient power supplies for off-grid self-powered devices.