Authors
Ziqi Li, Dilalanmu Ahemaitijiang, Hongfei Yang, Xuan Zhao, Mengjiao Pan, Jun Wan, Pingan Zhu, Dahua Shou
Published in
Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany). Pages e77689. Sep 09, 2026. Epub Sep 09, 2026.
Abstract
Energy harvesting from ambient moisture offers a ubiquitous solution to the energy crisis, free from geographical restrictions. While hydrogel-based moisture electric generators (MEGs) show promise as scalable sustainable energy sources, they currently face significant challenges regarding performance degradation due to inevitable water saturation or desiccation. Here, we present a circadian-inspired hydrogel MEG that exhibits sustained electricity generation by leveraging diurnal temperature-moisture fluctuations-traditionally considered detrimental noise-as a critical driving force. By combining an asymmetric hygroscopic hydrogel architecture with a conditioning treatment, the device undergoes reversible internal water redistribution, which is closely associated with periodic reversal of the effective driving force for electrical output. The resulting MEG delivers a short-circuit current density of 75 µA cm-2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.4-1 V, and a power density of 16 µW cm-2, consistently maintaining performance over a 57-day period. Electrical characterization, spectroscopy, and gravimetric analysis support a water-redistribution mechanism for the observed reversible electrical current. Similar behavior was also observed in several related hydrogel system. This work highlights a previously underexplored operational mode in hydrogel moisture electricity generation and offers a promising design concept for sustained ambient energy harvesting under coupled thermal-moisture fluctuations.
PMID:
42717524
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 10 Sep 2026.
Read full publication at:
Please sign in
to see all details.
Advertisement
Stats
- Recommendations n/a n/a positive of 0 vote(s)
- Views 7
- Comments 0