Issue 13, 2024

3D dendritic hierarchically gradient nanoflowers in situ grown on conductive substrates for efficient hydrovoltaic power generation

Abstract

Hydrovoltaic power generators (HPGs) that continuously produce electricity through the interactions between water molecules and surface-charged pores/channels constitute a promising sustainable power generation strategy. However, current hydrovoltaic materials are hindered by inadequate power generation due to the selectivity–permeability trade-offs and the unclear structure–activity relationships between the pore/channel structure and the resulting electrical performance. In this study, an efficient water-droplet-induced HPG was developed using three-dimensional dendritic hierarchically graded nanoflowers grown in situ on the bottom electrode. The nanoflowers formed by the self-assembly of nanocells composed of nanorods featured an increased surface area and hierarchical macro/meso/microporosities that achieved synergistic high ionic selectivity and permeability. The in situ preparation of nanoflowers also facilitated their robust contact with the bottom electrode. Consequently, a single water droplet (20 μL) produced an open-circuit voltage of 600 mV and a high short-circuit current density of 45 μA cm−2, approximately twice that of other hydrovoltaic materials. By leveraging the tunable porous structure with a precisely controlled average pore size spanning a broad range (20 nm–3.77 μm), the intricate correlation between the pore structure and the device performance was elucidated. Multifunctional self-powered sensing platforms, including an intelligent ultraviolet light alarm, a wearable breath-monitoring mask, and a non-contact human–machine interface were demonstrated. The proposed hierarchical-gradient nanoflower structure provides a new paradigm for constructing high-performance hydrovoltaic materials.

Graphical abstract: 3D dendritic hierarchically gradient nanoflowers in situ grown on conductive substrates for efficient hydrovoltaic power generation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Feb 2024
Accepted
28 May 2024
First published
11 Jun 2024

Energy Environ. Sci., 2024,17, 4780-4793

3D dendritic hierarchically gradient nanoflowers in situ grown on conductive substrates for efficient hydrovoltaic power generation

Y. Wang, X. Yuan, K. Ni, Y. Song, X. Li, X. Zeng, B. Shao and B. Sun, Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, 17, 4780 DOI: 10.1039/D4EE00828F

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