‘The beginning of a new generation’

Experts from Germany and other regions are exploiting water flow friction at the nanoscale with exciting results that could power sensors and other technologies without batteries.

Innovation from the Hamburg University of Technology and other institutions from across Europe relies on pressure and friction. based on to a newsletter.

“The technology paves the way for autonomous, maintenance-free sensor systems, for example for water detection, health monitoring in sports and smart clothing, or haptic robotics, where touch or movement directly generates an electrical signal,” says Hamburg researcher Manuel Brinker. he said.

The innovation generates energy by forcing water into tiny silicon pores, which causes friction during entry and exit. triboelectrification. Experts cited vehicle shocks as an example of a setting where the invention could be incorporated by taking advantage of mechanical pressure in the wheel well, according to the statement.

“An important step was the development of precisely engineered silicon structures that are simultaneously conductive, nanoporous and hydrophobic,” Brinker said in the statement. “This architecture allows us to control the movement of water inside the pores, making the energy conversion process both stable and scalable.”

The power due to friction is similar to the electricity produced when walking on certain carpets while wearing shoes. The person carries the burden until he touches another person or other objects.

Hamburg’s device captures the frictional energy created when a liquid rubs against a solid, 9% The highest conversion rate recorded for this type of generator by version.

“Combining nanoporous silicon with water provides an efficient, reproducible power source without exotic materials, using only silicon, the most abundant semiconductor on Earth, and water, the most abundant liquid,” says Luis Bartolomé of CIC energiGUNE in Spain. he said.

Other experts also benefit from routines and small movements. Students in France have created turnstiles that generate enough electricity to power screens in a subway station. An international group of experts has developed a way to harness the energy released when slow wind moves over water droplets.

It’s part of the shift to cleaner energy, starting at the nanoscale, to transform the way we power lights, sensors, displays and devices. In daily life, such as upgrades rooftop solar power Let you bring the revolution into your own home and enjoy the benefits of lower bills and more reliable power.

If you are thinking of switching to solar energy, Energy Wisdom Competitive quotes from trusted installers can help you save up to $10,000 on installation. If you’d rather save on upfront costs, Palmetto’s LightReach subscription program It makes it easy to buy panels for $0 with free maintenance while reducing your usage rate by 20%.

TCD free Sun Explorer can help you understand your options and TCD Rewards Club allows you to unlock up to $5,000 to help pay for upgrades.

All renewable energy is produced without heat-trapping air pollution, even if it is produced in silicon pores. NASA has linked planet-warming fumes to increased risks of severe heat waves that could warm some places. uninhabitable. Extreme weather conditions contribute to the spread of diseases Trinity College Dublin.

The innovators of water friction see their efforts as pioneering a new kind of energy production technology.

“Water-powered materials mark the beginning of a new generation of self-sustaining technologies,” experts said in the statement.

Get TCDs free newsletters For easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices — and win up to $5,000 in neat TCD-exclusive upgrades Reward Club.