Moisture-Enabled Electricity from Hygroscopic Materials: A New Type of Clean Energy

Water utilization is accompanied with the development of human beings, whereas gaseous moisture is usually regarded as an underexploited resource. The advances of highly efficient hygroscopic materials endow atmospheric water harvesting as an intriguing solution to convert moisture into clean water. The discovery of hygroelectricity, which refers to the charge buildup at a material surface dependent on humidity, and the following moisture-enabled electric generation (MEG) realizes energy conversion and directly outputs electricity. Much progress has been made since then to optimize MEG performance, pushing forward the applications of MEG into a practical level. Herein, the evolvement and development of MEG are systematically summarized in a chronological order. The optimization strategies of MEG are discussed and comprehensively evaluated. Then, the latest applications of MEG are presented, including high-performance powering units and self-powered devices. In the end, a perspective on the future development of MEG is given for inspiring more researchers into this promising area.

Automated summary

Water utilization is closely related to human development, but gaseous moisture has been underexploited as a resource. Highly efficient hygroscopic materials have enabled atmospheric water harvesting, converting moisture into clean water. The discovery of hygroelectricity and moisture-enabled electric generation (MEG) has advanced energy conversion and electricity output. This article systematically summarizes the evolution and development of MEG, discusses optimization strategies, presents the latest applications, and provides a perspective on future development to inspire researchers in this promising area.