Abstract
Restricted ambient temperature and slow heat replenishment in the phase transition of water molecules severely limit the performance of the evaporation-induced hydrovoltaic generators. Here we demonstrate a heat conduction effect enhanced hydrovoltaic power generator by integrating a flexible ionic thermoelectric gelatin material with a porous dual-size Al2O3 hydrovoltaic generator. In the hybrid heat conduction effect enhanced hydrovoltaic power generator, the ionic thermoelectric gelatin material can effectively improve the heat conduction between hydrovoltaic generator and near environment, thus increasing the water evaporation rate to improve the output voltage. Synergistically, hydrovoltaic generator part with continuous water evaporation can induce a constant temperature difference for the thermoelectric generator. Moreover, the system can efficiently achieve solar-to-thermal conversion to raise the temperature difference, accompanied by a stable open circuit voltage of 6.4 V for the hydrovoltaic generator module, the highest value yet.
Highlights
Restricted ambient temperature and slow heat replenishment in the phase transition of water molecules severely limit the performance of the evaporation-induced hydrovoltaic generators
Spontaneous water evaporation accompanied by heat absorption drives the water to flow through the dual-size Al2O3 (d-Al2O3)-formed electrical double layer (EDL) nanochannels, generating sustainable electricity and a low-temperature region
TE gelatin with a better thermal conductivity of 0.463 W m−1K−1 than air of 0.0267 W m−1K−1 can transfer heat from the ambient environment or from photothermal conversion to the d-Al2O3 hydrovoltaic layer to improve the performance of hydrovoltaic generators (HGs)
Summary
Restricted ambient temperature and slow heat replenishment in the phase transition of water molecules severely limit the performance of the evaporation-induced hydrovoltaic generators. Restricted ambient temperature and slow heat replenishment limit the rate of water evaporation, resulting in limited performance of the HGs. Especially, the thermal gradients induced by the energy consumption during the phase transition of water molecules in evaporation have long been ignored but imply precious opportunities for environmental power harvesting. The heat losses in the flexible thermoelectric materials caused by heat conduction and the sparse available heat gradient sources are serious obstacles for the development of TGs. Here, we designed and fabricated a heat conduction effect enhanced hydrovoltaic power generator (HCEHG) by rationally integrating flexible ionic thermoelectric (i-TE) gelatin on the back of a porous dual-size Al2O3 (d-Al2O3) constructed a HG as heat conduction layer to improve evaporation electricity output and maintain a sustained thermoelectric conversion without any special environmental requirements. The generated electricity can be stored in commercial supercapacitors and directly drive electronic devices, such as digital calculators, or be used as an energy supply platform for wearable devices
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
