Hygroelectric Energy Harvesting by Daily Humidity Cycles and its Thermodynamics

Atmospheric moisture is emerging as a ubiquitous energy source for energy harvesting. However, a practical long‐life device has not been realized, and theoretical aspects including mechanisms and thermodynamics have not been fully clarified. Here, this study provides a practical device and a thermod...

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Main Authors: Yusuke Komazaki, Taiki Nobeshima, Hirotada Hirama, Yuichi Watanabe, Kouji Suemori, Sei Uemura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-03-01
Series:Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202400342
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author Yusuke Komazaki
Taiki Nobeshima
Hirotada Hirama
Yuichi Watanabe
Kouji Suemori
Sei Uemura
author_facet Yusuke Komazaki
Taiki Nobeshima
Hirotada Hirama
Yuichi Watanabe
Kouji Suemori
Sei Uemura
author_sort Yusuke Komazaki
collection DOAJ
description Atmospheric moisture is emerging as a ubiquitous energy source for energy harvesting. However, a practical long‐life device has not been realized, and theoretical aspects including mechanisms and thermodynamics have not been fully clarified. Here, this study provides a practical device and a thermodynamic theory for a concentration cell‐based hygroelectric generator (hygroelectric cell, HEC), which enables high‐power and long‐term electricity generation by day/night humidity changes. Using a Li1+x+yAlxTi2−xSiyP3−yO12 glass–ceramic solid electrolyte membrane with no water permeability, an ideal HEC without self‐discharge is realized. The ideal HEC generates electricity in an outdoor environment for over three months with a maximum power density of 60.4 μW cm−2 and an average power density of 3.0 μW cm−2. The maximum power density in the experimental environment reaches 436 μW cm−2. This is 68 times higher than conventional HECs with polymer‐based cation‐exchange membranes. The ideal HEC can also drive a wireless sensor for more than four months. Furthermore, a thermodynamic model of the ideal HEC, which enables calculations of the maximum work and maximum efficiency, is derived and the model is verified by experiments. This study provides new insights into both thermodynamic theory and device development aspects of the humidity‐based energy harvesting.
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spelling doaj-art-4050381d30cc4738b8cc7002bced89e52025-08-20T03:16:35ZengWiley-VCHAdvanced Energy & Sustainability Research2699-94122025-03-0163n/an/a10.1002/aesr.202400342Hygroelectric Energy Harvesting by Daily Humidity Cycles and its ThermodynamicsYusuke Komazaki0Taiki Nobeshima1Hirotada Hirama2Yuichi Watanabe3Kouji Suemori4Sei Uemura5Human Augmentation Research Center National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Kashiwa II Campus University of Tokyo 6‐2‐3 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa Chiba 277‐0882 JapanHuman Augmentation Research Center National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Kashiwa II Campus University of Tokyo 6‐2‐3 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa Chiba 277‐0882 JapanHuman Augmentation Research Center National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Kashiwa II Campus University of Tokyo 6‐2‐3 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa Chiba 277‐0882 JapanSensing System Research Center National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Central 5, 1‐1‐1 Higashi, Tsukuba Ibaraki 305‐8565 JapanSensing System Research Center National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Central 5, 1‐1‐1 Higashi, Tsukuba Ibaraki 305‐8565 JapanSensing System Research Center National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) Central 5, 1‐1‐1 Higashi, Tsukuba Ibaraki 305‐8565 JapanAtmospheric moisture is emerging as a ubiquitous energy source for energy harvesting. However, a practical long‐life device has not been realized, and theoretical aspects including mechanisms and thermodynamics have not been fully clarified. Here, this study provides a practical device and a thermodynamic theory for a concentration cell‐based hygroelectric generator (hygroelectric cell, HEC), which enables high‐power and long‐term electricity generation by day/night humidity changes. Using a Li1+x+yAlxTi2−xSiyP3−yO12 glass–ceramic solid electrolyte membrane with no water permeability, an ideal HEC without self‐discharge is realized. The ideal HEC generates electricity in an outdoor environment for over three months with a maximum power density of 60.4 μW cm−2 and an average power density of 3.0 μW cm−2. The maximum power density in the experimental environment reaches 436 μW cm−2. This is 68 times higher than conventional HECs with polymer‐based cation‐exchange membranes. The ideal HEC can also drive a wireless sensor for more than four months. Furthermore, a thermodynamic model of the ideal HEC, which enables calculations of the maximum work and maximum efficiency, is derived and the model is verified by experiments. This study provides new insights into both thermodynamic theory and device development aspects of the humidity‐based energy harvesting.https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202400342deliquescenceshydrovoltaiclithium chloridesmoisture‐enabled electricity generationsnanogenerators
spellingShingle Yusuke Komazaki
Taiki Nobeshima
Hirotada Hirama
Yuichi Watanabe
Kouji Suemori
Sei Uemura
Hygroelectric Energy Harvesting by Daily Humidity Cycles and its Thermodynamics
Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research
deliquescences
hydrovoltaic
lithium chlorides
moisture‐enabled electricity generations
nanogenerators
title Hygroelectric Energy Harvesting by Daily Humidity Cycles and its Thermodynamics
title_full Hygroelectric Energy Harvesting by Daily Humidity Cycles and its Thermodynamics
title_fullStr Hygroelectric Energy Harvesting by Daily Humidity Cycles and its Thermodynamics
title_full_unstemmed Hygroelectric Energy Harvesting by Daily Humidity Cycles and its Thermodynamics
title_short Hygroelectric Energy Harvesting by Daily Humidity Cycles and its Thermodynamics
title_sort hygroelectric energy harvesting by daily humidity cycles and its thermodynamics
topic deliquescences
hydrovoltaic
lithium chlorides
moisture‐enabled electricity generations
nanogenerators
url https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202400342
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AT taikinobeshima hygroelectricenergyharvestingbydailyhumiditycyclesanditsthermodynamics
AT hirotadahirama hygroelectricenergyharvestingbydailyhumiditycyclesanditsthermodynamics
AT yuichiwatanabe hygroelectricenergyharvestingbydailyhumiditycyclesanditsthermodynamics
AT koujisuemori hygroelectricenergyharvestingbydailyhumiditycyclesanditsthermodynamics
AT seiuemura hygroelectricenergyharvestingbydailyhumiditycyclesanditsthermodynamics