Energy Storage Function Research Articles

Permeate gap thermo-osmotic system for simultaneous freshwater production, energy storage, and power generation

The emerging thermo-osmotic system enables harvesting low-grade thermal energy below 100 °C for the simultaneous production of fresh water and electricity. Considering the fluctuation of low-grade heat sources, a novel permeate gap thermo-osmotic system without pump pressurization was proposed in this study, which also allows for energy storage. A lab-scale setup with a 32 cm2 membrane area was built, by which a 2 W light bulb was successfully illuminated through the thermal energy-potential energy-electricity conversion process. In the pressurization process of the permeate side, the hydrophobic membranes with non-woven support exhibit higher pressure resistance, capable of withstanding pressures exceeding 200 kPa. Through experimental and theoretical analyses, the influences of different operation conditions and membrane properties on system performance were studied. Furthermore, utilizing solar energy as the heat source, a case study was conducted based on real meteorological data from a typical coastal city over a consecutive 72-hour period. In the solar-driven PGTO system with a power capacity of approximately 150 kW, the exergy efficiency can achieve 1.04 %, with a power density surpassing 0.1 W m−2, and an average daily freshwater production of over 70000 t. The energy storage function enables stable power generation within the 72 h, and it can sustain steady operation for nearly 7 h thereafter in the absence of sunlight. This study demonstrated the potential of the proposed PGTO system to efficiently utilize fluctuating low-grade thermal energy.

Integrated gypsum composite material for energy storage and thermal insulation: Assessment of mechanical performance, thermal properties and environmental impact

The development of gypsum-based construction materials with energy storage and thermal insulation functions is crucial for regulating indoor temperatures, reducing building energy consumption, and mitigating CO2 emissions. In this study, graphene and expanded vermiculite (EV) were used as paraffin carriers to prepare a novel dual-carrier composite energy storage material called P/G-EV, which was developed through ultrasound, a constant-temperature water bath, and vacuum adsorption. In addition, a novel energy storage–thermal insulation integrated–gypsum (ESTIIG) composite material was developed using P/G-EV as the energy storage layer (ESL) and EV as the thermal insulation layer (TIL) compounded with phosphorus building gypsum. The thermal properties, mechanics, apparent density, temperature control performance in a real environment and environmental impact of ESTIIG were evaluated, and the temperature control mechanism was analyzed. The results reveal superior thermal stability and thermal conductivity of the P/G-EV carrier.P/G-EV overcomes the low thermal conductivity and leakage problems associated with paraffin, exhibiting a phase change temperature and latent heat of 21.7 °C and 101 J/g, respectively, during the heat absorption stage. In ESTIIG, P/G-EV and EV are compounded with phosphorus building gypsum to form an ESL and a TIL. The overall mechanical performance of ESTIIG meets the requirements of construction applications. Among the variants of ESTIIG, ESTIIG-1, with an ESL/TIL thickness ratio of 3:1, exhibits the best real-world temperature control performance and environmental benefits, providing a more stable and comfortable indoor temperature. Furthermore, this study provides data and theoretical references for the design of ESTIIG through real-world temperature control monitoring and analysis of the temperature control mechanism.

A process flow of an air separation unit with an energy storage function: Utilizing distillation potential to absorb energy storage air and its performance

The integration of liquid air energy storage (LAES) and air separation units (ASUs) can improve the operation economy of ASUs due to their matching at refrigeration temperature. A process flow of an ASU with energy storage utilizing the distillation potential of the ASU to absorb the released air due to storing energy (i.e., the energy storage air) is proposed. Its novelty is thus: the ASU can be used to absorb the energy storage air to maximize the air utilization and improve the energy efficiency of the integrated system. It can be simulated using Aspen Plus software. Based on the simulated data, an optimal process flow is determined by analyzing the effect of a reduction in discharge of energy storage air on the distillation conditions of the ASU, and its energy efficiency analysis and economic evaluation are conducted. When the discharge of energy storage air is reduced by 50 % during energy storage and the stored liquid air is directly recovered into the ASU during energy release, a proposed process flow with largest absorption for energy storage air could be obtained. Its product exergy efficiencies for energy storage and release are 37.80 % and 37.57 %, respectively. The overall exergy efficiency of the LAES and the electrical round-trip efficiency of the proposed system are both 67.48 %, the electricity cost saving ratio is 6.43 %, and the payback period of the LAES is 2.4 years. The investment in an air booster accounts for the largest proportion of the overall cost (being some 49.3 % of the total investment required for such a LAES system). After the proposed system is applied throughout the industry, carbon dioxide emissions can be decreased by 15.12–26.76 Mt/year on the grid side.

Capacity configuration and economic analysis of integrated wind–solar–thermal–storage generation system based on concentrated solar power plant

As the proportion of wind and photovoltaic power plants characterized by intermittency and volatility in the electric power system is increasing continuously, it restricts the development of renewable energy at a higher proportion and a larger scale. CSP has the dual functions of peak-regulating power supply and energy storage, which can provide important support for grid access and power regulation for renewable energy power. In this study, the capacity configuration and economy of integrated wind–solar–thermal–storage power generation system were analyzed by the net profit economic model based on the adaptive weight particle swarm algorithm. A case study was conducted on a 450 MW system in Xinjiang, China. The effects of heat storage capacity, capacity ratio of wind power and photovoltaic to molten salt parabolic trough power generation on the economy of the integrated power generation system were obtained under the condition that the system output should meet the power load. The results show that when the capacity ratio is fixed and the heat storage capacity increases, the net profit of the system increases first and then decreases. When the heat storage capacity is fixed, the net profit of the system increases with the increase of the capacity ratio, but when the capacity ratio exceeds 5:1, the upward trend is gradually slowed down. When there are different heat storage capacities and capacity ratios, the lowest peak-shaving electricity prices corresponding to the net profit break-even point of the integrated system are obtained.

Single-Cell Untargeted Lipidomics Using Liquid Chromatography and Data-Dependent Acquisition after Live Cell Selection.

We report the development and validation of an untargeted single-cell lipidomics method based on microflow chromatography coupled to a data-dependent mass spectrometry method for fragmentation-based identification of lipids. Given the absence of single-cell lipid standards, we show how the methodology should be optimized and validated using a dilute cell extract. The methodology is applied to dilute pancreatic cancer and macrophage cell extracts and standards to demonstrate the sensitivity requirements for confident assignment of lipids and classification of the cell type at the single-cell level. The method is then coupled to a system that can provide automated sampling of live, single cells into capillaries under microscope observation. This workflow retains the spatial information and morphology of cells during sampling and highlights the heterogeneity in lipid profiles observed at the single-cell level. The workflow is applied to show changes in single-cell lipid profiles as a response to oxidative stress, coinciding with expanded lipid droplets. This demonstrates that the workflow is sufficiently sensitive to observing changes in lipid profiles in response to a biological stimulus. Understanding how lipids vary in single cells will inform future research into a multitude of biological processes as lipids play important roles in structural, biophysical, energy storage, and signaling functions.

The Effect of Diesel Exhaust Particles on Adipose Tissue Mitochondrial Function and Inflammatory Status.

Air pollution poses a significant global health risk, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) such as diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) being of particular concern due to their potential to drive systemic toxicities through bloodstream infiltration. The association between PM2.5 exposure and an increased prevalence of metabolic disorders, including obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is evident against a backdrop of rising global obesity and poor metabolic health. This paper examines the role of adipose tissue in mediating the effects of PM2.5 on metabolic health. Adipose tissue, beyond its energy storage function, is responsive to inhaled noxious stimuli, thus disrupting metabolic homeostasis and responding to particulate exposure with pro-inflammatory cytokine release, contributing to systemic inflammation. The purpose of this study was to characterize the metabolic response of adipose tissue in mice exposed to either DEPs or room air (RA), exploring both the adipokine profile and mitochondrial bioenergetics. In addition to a slight change in fat mass and a robust shift in adipocyte hypertrophy in the DEP-exposed animals, we found significant changes in adipose mitochondrial bioenergetics. Furthermore, the DEP-exposed animals had a significantly higher expression of adipose inflammatory markers compared with the adipose from RA-exposed mice. Despite the nearly exclusive focus on dietary factors in an effort to better understand metabolic health, these results highlight the novel role of environmental factors that may contribute to the growing global burden of poor metabolic health.

Ultrahigh energy storage in high-entropy ceramic capacitors with polymorphic relaxor phase.

Ultrahigh-power-density multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) are critical components in electrical and electronic systems. However, the realization of a high energy density combined with a high efficiency is a major challenge for practical applications. We propose a high-entropy design in barium titanate (BaTiO3)-based lead-free MLCCs with polymorphic relaxor phase. This strategy effectively minimizes hysteresis loss by lowering the domain-switching barriers and enhances the breakdown strength by the high atomic disorder with lattice distortion and grain refining. Benefiting from the synergistic effects, we achieved a high energy density of 20.8 joules per cubic centimeter with an ultrahigh efficiency of 97.5% in the MLCCs. This approach should be universally applicable to designing high-performance dielectrics for energy storage and other related functionalities.

Integration Device of Super-Capacitors with Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Integration Device of Super-Capacitors with Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Model-free adaptive optimal control for fast and safe start-up of pumped storage hydropower units

Pumped storage unit (PSU) is a special kind of hydropower unit, that undertakes the task of power generation, and performs the function of energy storage. Due to its unique advantages, pumped storage power stations have been extensively developed in China in recent years and play an important role that is difficult to be performed by other energy sources. Although many studies have been carried out on the control of PSUs, most of the control algorithms are based on object models, which results in the control performance depending on the model accuracy to a large extent, limiting the practical application of these algorithms. For this reason, a preliminary application of model-free adaptive control in PSUs is investigated in this paper. Firstly, a refined nonlinear model of PSU is established, secondly, the model-free adaptive controller of PSU and its parameter optimization strategy are designed, and finally, verification is carried out by simulation studies for four different start-up conditions, and a comprehensive comparison is made with control strategies such as proportional-integral-derivative (PID), fractional-order PID, and nonlinear generalized predictive control. The results show that the proposed method has significant improvement in both speed and head control performance compared with other methods, with the regulation time being on average at least 5.53 s faster and the overshoot being on average at least 2.85 % lower. It proves the effectiveness and superiority of the method. In addition, the proposed method reduces energy consumption in the regulation process, and the computational cost meets the real-time control requirements, which has a wide range of application prospects.

Optimal Configuration of Multi-Energy Storage in an Electric–Thermal–Hydrogen Integrated Energy System Considering Extreme Disaster Scenarios

Extreme disasters have become increasingly common in recent years and pose significant dangers to the integrated energy system’s secure and dependable energy supply. As a vital part of an integrated energy system, the energy storage system can help with emergency rescue and recovery during major disasters. In addition, it can improve energy utilization rates and regulate fluctuations in renewable energy under normal conditions. In this study, the sizing scheme of multi-energy storage equipment in the electric–thermal–hydrogen integrated energy system is optimized; economic optimization in the regular operating scenario and resilience enhancement in extreme disaster scenarios are also considered. A refined model of multi-energy storage is constructed, and a two-layer capacity configuration optimization model is proposed. This model is further enhanced by the integration of a Markov two-state fault transmission model, which simulates equipment defects and improves system resilience. The optimization process is solved using the tabu chaotic quantum particle swarm optimization (TCQPSO) algorithm to provide reliable and accurate optimization results. The results indicate that addressing severe disaster situations in a capacity configuration fully leverages the reserve energy function of energy storage and enhances system resilience while maintaining economic efficiency; furthermore, adjusting the load loss penalty coefficients offers a more targeted approach to the balancing of the system economy and resilience. Thus, new algorithmic choices and planning strategies for future research on enhancing the resilience of integrated energy systems under extreme disaster scenarios are provided.

Bi/Bi2O3/TiO2 heterojunction photocathode for high-efficiency visible-light-driven lithium-sulfur batteries: Advancing light harvesting and polysulfide conversion

Integrating solar-electrical energy conversion and electrical-chemical energy storage functions within a single device offers a promising strategy for efficient light harvesting, conversion, and storage of renewable solar energy. Herein, we develop visible-light-driven photoelectrochemical Li2S6-based lithium-sulfur batteries (VPLSBs) for simultaneous energy conversion and storage, employing a versatile Bi/Bi2O3/TiO2 photocathode as both a light harvester and redox catalyst. The narrowed band gap of photocathode minimizes photoelectron-hole recombination, enabling efficient light-to-electrical energy conversion. Its energy level alignment with Li-S electrochemical potentials facilitates the photocarriers’ participation in polysulfide conversions, supporting electrical-to-chemical energy storage. Under visible light, the Bi/Bi2O3/TiO2 photocathode exhibits a photoelectrocatalysis effect, enhancing interfacial charge transfer, reducing Li2S deposition resistance, and ensuring stable Li2S plating/stripping. Additionally, the bare photo-charging process achieves an overall energy conversion-storage efficiency of 2.58 %. The VPLSB demonstrates an exceptional specific capacity of 1484 mA h g−1 over 900 cycles, maintaining an apparent energy efficiency of 100.2 % at 0.2 mA cm−2.

Energy saving, load bearing and attachment mechanism on ice and frozen ground of biomimetic mechanical foot.

The frozen ground robot can be widely and prospectively applied in plentiful fields, such as military rescue and planet exploration. Based on the energy-saving, load-bearing, and attachment functions of reindeer hooves, we studied the kinematics of reindeer feet and designed a biomimetic energy-saving attachment mechanical foot (mechanical foot I) and two contrast mechanical feet (mechanical feet II and III). The energy-saving and load-bearing performances of the biomimetic mechanical foot were tested on a motion mechanics platform, which revealed this mechanical foot was adaptive to three types of ground (frozen ground, ice, and water ice lunar soil). Mechanical foot I possesses the functions of elastic energy storage and power consumption reduction, and its power range is from -2.77 to -27.85 W. Compared with mechanical foot III, the load-bearing ability of mechanical foot I was improved by the dewclaws, and the peak forces in the X, Y, and Z directions increased by about 2.54, 1.25 and 1.31 times, respectively. When mechanical foot I acted with more- smooth surface, the joint range of motion (ROM) increased, changes of the three-directional force at the foot junction decreased. The forces were the lowest on ice among the three types of ground, the X-, Y- and Z-directional changes were about 62.96, 83.7, and 319.85 N respectively, and the ROMs for the ankle joint and metatarsophalangeal joint of mechanical foot I were about 17.93° and 16.10°, respectively. This study revealed the active adaptation mechanism between the biomimetic mechanical foot and ice or frozen ground, and thus theoretically underlies research on the biomimetic mechanical foot.

Fractional-Order Sliding-Mode Control and Radial Basis Function Neural Network Adaptive Damping Passivity-Based Control with Application to Modular Multilevel Converters

This paper proposes a hybrid control scheme that combines fractional-order sliding-mode control (FOSMC) with radial basis function neural network adaptive damping passivity-based control (RBFPBC) for modular multilevel converters (MMC) under non-ideal operating conditions. According to the passive control theory, we establish the Euler–Lagrange (EL) models of positive and negative sequences based on the unbalanced grid. A passivity-based controller that satisfies the energy dissipation law is designed. To enable rapid convergence of the system energy storage function, a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is introduced to adjust the injection damping adaptively. Additionally, a fractional-order sliding-mode controller (FOSMC) is designed. The fractional-order sliding mode surface used can improve tracking performance, and effectively suppressed the undesirable chattering phenomenon compared to the traditional sliding-mode control (SMC). Finally, combining the two control methods can effectively solve the issue of passivity-based control (PBC) being too dependent on parameters. The proposed hybrid control scheme enhances the ability of the system to resist disturbances, and improves its overall robustness. Simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this control method.

3D Porous Sponge/Carbon Nanotube/Polyaniline/Chitosan Capacitive Bioanode Material for Improving the Power Generation and Energy Storage Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells

Anode materials play a crucial role in the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in terms of power output. In this study, carbon nanotube (CNT)/polyaniline (PANI)/chitosan (CS) composites were prepared on a porous sponge matrix. The high electrical conductivity of CNTs, the capacitive behavior of PANI, and the biocompatibility of CS were leveraged to enhance the electricity generation and energy storage capabilities of MFCs. Experimental results demonstrated that the MFC with the modified anode achieved a maximum power density of 7902.4 mW/m3. Moreover, in the charging–discharging test, the stored electricity of the S/CNT/PANI/CS anode was 16.38 times that of the S/CNT anode when both the charging and discharging times were 30 min. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the modified composite anode exhibited remarkable biocompatibility and selective enrichment of electrogenic bacteria. Overall, this study presents a novel approach for developing composite MFC anode materials with energy storage functionality.

Self-Powered Dual-Band Electrochromic Supercapacitor Devices for Smart Window Based on Ternary Dielectric Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

A dual-band electrochromic supercapacitor device (DESCD) can be driven by an external power supply to modulate solar radiation, which is a promising energy-saving strategy and has broad application prospects in smart windows. However, traditional power supplies, such as batteries, supercapacitors, etc., usually face limited lifetimes and potential environmental issues. Hence, we propose a self-powered DESCD based on TiO2/WO3 dual-band electrochromic material and a ternary dielectric rotating triboelectric nanogenerator (TDR-TENG). The TDR-TENG can convert mechanical energy from the environment into electrical energy to obtain a high output of 840 V, 23.9 µA, and 327 nC. The as-prepared TDR-TENG can drive the TiO2/WO3 film to store energy with a high dual-band modulation amplitude of 41.6% in the visible (VIS) region and 84% in the near-infrared (NIR) region, decreasing the indoor-outdoor light-heat interaction and thereby reducing the building energy consumption. The self-powered DESCD demonstrated in this study has multiple functions of energy harvesting, energy storage, and energy saving, providing a promising strategy for the development of self-powered smart windows.

Mn-doped nickel–cobalt sulfides as bifunctional electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors and electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions

The development of active electrode materials with dual functions of energy storage and electrocatalyst is important for future energy storage and energy conversion devices. In this work, manganese-doped nickel cobalt sulfide (Mn-NCS) mesoporous microspheres were prepared via a simple two-step solvent-thermal method and the effects of different Mn2+ doping levels on the electrochemical properties and hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) of the prepared samples were investigated. As a supercapacitor electrode material, optimized Mn0.5-NCS had a maximum specific capacitance of 1175 C g−1 at a current density of 1 A/g and remained an outstanding capacitance retention rate of 81 % at a current density of 20 A/g. The asymmetric supercapacitor was assembled with the optimal electrode material as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode, and a high energy density of 55.4Wh kg−1 was achieved at a power density of 797 W kg−1. The Mn0.5-NCS exhibited the best HER performance in alkaline electrolyte, shown as the lowest overpotential of 95 mV and the smallest Tafel slope of 71 mV dec−1 at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Experimental tests and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that manganese preferentially occupies nickel sites and acted as an electron donor in the electrochemical process to realize the electron redistribution, increasing electron density and accelerating charge transfer. The results indicated that manganese-doped nickel–cobalt sulfides have great potential as bifunctional electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors and HER.

Rho-Kinase Is Differentially Expressed in the Adipose Tissue of Rodent and Human in Response to Aging, Sex, and Acute Exercise.

White adipose tissue (WAT) controls energy storage, expenditure, and endocrine function. Rho-kinase (ROCK) is related to impaired thermogenesis, downregulation of preadipocyte differentiation, and adipokine production. Furthermore, WAT ROCK responds to metabolic stress from high-fat diets or diabetes. However, ROCK distribution in adipose depots and its response to aging and sex remain unclear. Thus, we aim to investigate ROCK function in adipose tissue of rodent and human in response to aging and sex. We observed specific differences in the ROCK1/2 distribution in inguinal WAT (ingWAT), perigonadal WAT (pgWAT), and brown adipose tissue of male and female rodents. However, ROCK2 expression was lower in female ingWAT compared with males, a fact that was not observed in the other depots. In the pgWAT and ingWAT of male and female rodents, ROCK activity increased during development. Moreover, middle-aged female rodents and humans showed downregulation in ROCK activity after acute physical exercise. Interestingly, ROCK levels were associated with several inflammatory markers both in rats and humans WAT (Nfkb1, Tnf, Il1b, Il6, and Mcp1). Induction of cell senescence by etoposide elevates ROCK activity in human preadipocytes; however, silencing ROCK1/2 demonstrates improvement in the inflammatory and cell senescence state. Using public databases, several pathways were strongly associated with ROCK modulation in WAT. In summary, WAT ROCK increases with development in association with inflammatory markers. Further, ROCK activity was attenuated by acute physical exercise, implicating it as a possible therapeutic target for metabolism improvement mediated by adipose tissue inflammatory state changes.

Localization, traffic and function of Rab34 in adipocyte lipid and endocrine functions

BackgroundExcessive lipid accumulation in the adipose tissue in obesity alters the endocrine and energy storage functions of adipocytes. Adipocyte lipid droplets represent key organelles coordinating lipid storage and mobilization in these cells. Recently, we identified the small GTPase, Rab34, in the lipid droplet proteome of adipocytes. Herein, we have characterized the distribution, intracellular transport, and potential contribution of this GTPase to adipocyte physiology and its regulation in obesity.Methods3T3-L1 and human primary preadipocytes were differentiated in vitro and Rab34 distribution and trafficking were analyzed using markers of cellular compartments. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were transfected with expression vectors and/or Rab34 siRNA and assessed for secretory activity, lipid accumulation and expression of proteins regulating lipid metabolism. Proteomic and protein interaction analyses were employed for the identification of the Rab34 interactome. These studies were combined with functional analysis to unveil the role played by the GTPase in adipocytes, with a focus on the actions conveyed by Rab34 interacting proteins. Finally, Rab34 regulation in response to obesity was also evaluated.ResultsOur results show that Rab34 localizes at the Golgi apparatus in preadipocytes. During lipid droplet biogenesis, Rab34 translocates from the Golgi to endoplasmic reticulum-related compartments and then reaches the surface of adipocyte lipid droplets. Rab34 exerts distinct functions related to its intracellular location. Thus, at the Golgi, Rab34 regulates cisternae integrity as well as adiponectin trafficking and oligomerization. At the lipid droplets, this GTPase controls lipid accumulation and lipolysis through its interaction with the E1-ubiquitin ligase, UBA1, which induces the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of the fatty acid transporter and member of Rab34 interactome, FABP5. Finally, Rab34 levels in the adipose tissue and adipocytes are regulated in response to obesity and related pathogenic insults (i.e., fibrosis).ConclusionsRab34 plays relevant roles during adipocyte differentiation, including from the regulation of the oligomerization (i.e., biological activity) and secretion of a major adipokine with insulin-sensitizing actions, adiponectin, to lipid storage and mobilization from lipid droplets. Rab34 dysregulation in obesity may contribute to the altered adipokine secretion and lipid metabolism that characterize adipocyte dysfunction in conditions of excess adiposity.

Soft multi-layer actuators integrated with the functions of electrical energy harvest and storage.

Soft multi-layer actuators are smart, lightweight, and flexible, which can be used in a wide range of fields such as artificial muscles, advanced medical devices, and wearable devices. The research on the actuation property of the soft actuators has made significant progress, paving the way for the controllable motions of the actuators. However, compared with the intelligence and adaptability of life in nature, these actuators still have the problem of insufficient intelligence. The phenomenon is reflected in a lack of continuous supply of energy. Therefore, it has become a development trend to combine functions such as energy harvesting, storage, and conversion with actuators to build intelligent actuators. This concept presents a synopsis of the advancements made in soft actuators that have been coupled with the capabilities of electrical energy harvesting and storage. The design concepts and typical applications of this soft smart actuators are introduced in detail. Finally, the future research directions and applications of smart actuators are prospected from our perspective.

Proof of Aerobically Autoxidized Self-Charge Concept Based on Single Catechol-Enriched Carbon Cathode Material

HighlightsAn air-breathing chemical self-charge concept of oxygen-enriched carbon cathode.The oxygen-enriched carbon material with abundant catechol groups.Rapid air-oxidation chemical self-charge of catechol groups.The self-charging concept has drawn considerable attention due to its excellent ability to achieve environmental energy harvesting, conversion and storage without an external power supply. However, most self-charging designs assembled by multiple energy harvesting, conversion and storage materials increase the energy transfer loss; the environmental energy supply is generally limited by climate and meteorological conditions, hindering the potential application of these self-powered devices to be available at all times. Based on aerobic autoxidation of catechol, which is similar to the electrochemical oxidation of the catechol groups on the carbon materials under an electrical charge, we proposed an air-breathing chemical self-charge concept based on the aerobic autoxidation of catechol groups on oxygen-enriched carbon materials to ortho-quinone groups. Energy harvesting, conversion and storage functions could be integrated on a single carbon material to avoid the energy transfer loss among the different materials. Moreover, the assembled Cu/oxygen-enriched carbon battery confirmed the feasibility of the air-oxidation self-charging/electrical discharging mechanism for potential applications. This air-breathing chemical self-charge concept could facilitate the exploration of high-efficiency sustainable air self-charging devices.