A Hygroscopic Janus Heterojunction for Continuous Moisture-Triggered Electricity Generators

Moisture-triggered electricity generator (MEG) harvesting energy from the ubiquity of atmospheric moisture is one of the promising potential candidates for renewable power demand. However, MEG device performance is strongly dependent on the moisture concentration, which results in its large fluctuation of the electrical output. Here, a Janus heterojunction MEG device consisting of nanostructured silicon and hygroscopic polyelectrolyte incorporating hydrophilic carbon nanotube mesh is proposed to enable ambient moisture harvesting and continuous stable electrical output delivery. The nanostructured silicon with a large surface/volume ratio provides strong coupling interaction with water molecules for charge generation. A polyelectrolyte of polydiallyl dimethylammonium chloride (PDDA) can facilitate charge selective transporting and enhance the effectiveness of moisture-absorbing in an arid environment simultaneously. The conductive, porous, and hydrophilic carbon nanotube mesh allows water to be ripped through as well as the generated charges being collected timely. As such, any generated charge carriers in the Janus heterojunction can be efficiently swept toward their respective electrodes, because of the device asymmetric contact. A MEG device continuously delivers an open-circuit voltage of 1.0 V, short-circuit current density of 8.2 mu A/cm(2), and output power density of 2.2 mu W/cm(2) under an ambient environment (60% relative humidity, 25 degrees C), which is a record value over the previously reported values. Furthermore, the infrared thermal measurements also reveal that the moisture-triggered electricity generation power is likely ascribed to surrounding thermal energy collected by the MEG device. Our results provide an insightful rationale for the design of device structure and understanding of the working mechanism of MEG, which is of great importance to promote the efficient electricity conversion induced by moisture in the atmosphere.

Automated summary

Moisture-triggered electricity generator (MEG) is a promising candidate for renewable power demand, but its performance is strongly affected by moisture concentration. In this study, a Janus heterojunction MEG device is proposed to harvest ambient moisture and deliver stable electrical output. The device achieves record values of open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, and output power density under ambient conditions. The findings provide insights into the design and working mechanism of MEG, which are important for efficient electricity conversion from atmospheric moisture.