This post is also available in:
עברית (Hebrew)
Researchers at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) have unveiled a groundbreaking energy harvester that generates continuous electricity from seawater. This innovative device exploits the natural movement of sodium ions in seawater to produce power, offering an eco-friendly and sustainable energy solution with wide-ranging applications.
The harvester uses advanced materials, including multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide films. Carbon nanotubes, known for their excellent conductivity, are employed as the cathode, while graphene oxide films, which contain oxygen-functional groups, serve as the anode. Seawater acts as the electrolyte, creating a potential difference as ions move between the electrodes, which in turn generates electricity.
This new technology is significantly more efficient than existing energy harvesters. It boasts a power density of 24.6 mW/cm³, making it 4.2 times more powerful than the typical 5.9 mW/cm³ found in conventional ionic hydrogel-based generators. The harvester is capable of powering small electronic devices such as calculators, watches, and sensors. For applications requiring more energy, the device can be scaled up or linked with additional harvesters to increase power output.
Principal Researcher Seungmin Hyun emphasized the harvester’s unique advantage: it operates without the need for external energy sources to recharge. This is a significant improvement over traditional water-based energy harvesters, which often have low energy conversion efficiency and rely on external sources to maintain water circulation. The new technology’s ability to continuously restore its initial open circuit voltage makes it ideal for use in remote and ocean-based environments.
The harvester has the potential to power sensors and devices used in monitoring environmental factors such as temperature and dissolved oxygen in aquatic settings. The research, published in the Chemical Engineering Journal, represents a significant advancement in energy harvesting and eco-friendly technology, promising versatile applications across various industries.
