It seems simple, but it generates electricity: scientists transform ambient humidity into electricity with gelatin and salt, and the generator still works for more than 30 days.

Developed by researchers from Queen Mary, University of Warwick, Imperial College London, and Universitas Mercatorum, the Moisture Electric Generator uses gelatin, table salt, and activated charcoal to produce electricity from ambient humidity, achieving stable output for over 30 days and scaled performance of up to 90 volts

Developed with gelatin, table salt, and activated charcoal, the Moisture Electric Generator transforms water molecules from the air or skin into stable energy, reaching up to 90 volts in series and can also act as a biodegradable respiratory sensor.

Food-grade materials managed to transform ambient humidity into continuous electricity for more than 30 days, in a biodegradable generator developed by researchers from Queen Mary, Warwick, Imperial College London, and Universitas Mercatorum.

How electricity, ambient humidity, and simple materials connect

The device, called the Moisture Electric Generator, or MEG, uses gelatin, sodium chloride, and activated charcoal to harness water molecules present in the air or human skin. The proposal reverses a known problem in electronics: humidity ceases to be an obstacle and starts functioning as an energy input.

The fabrication occurs through a simple water-based process. During drying, the gelatin and salt mixture self-organizes into three layers. When it receives moisture again, this architecture allows the movement of ions within the material, creating stable electrical output.

Each unit presented 1 volt for periods exceeding 30 days. In series, several units reached up to 90 volts and 5.08 mA, performance sufficient to power small electronic devices, including a 40-light LED string.

Technology seeks to reduce the impact of electronic waste

The advancement draws attention because it combines performance with widely available and non-toxic materials. In a scenario of growing global electronic waste, the MEG emerges as a lower-impact alternative compared to conventional batteries and energy systems based on components that are difficult to dispose of.

Ming Dong, postdoctoral research associate at the School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary University of London and the first author of the study, stated that high voltages usually depend on complex manufacturing or scarce materials. For him, the work shows strong performance with simple and sustainable components.

Generator also functions as a humidity sensor

In addition to producing energy, the material responds to small changes in humidity. This characteristic allows its use as a skin-compatible sensor, capable of tracking physiological signals related to breathing, speech, and proximity without touch.

The researchers demonstrated real-time respiratory monitoring and detection of changes associated with speech through variations in exhaled humidity. The technology can also pave the way for wearable health systems and battery-free human-machine interfaces.

Another advantage is at the end of life. The generator can biodegrade in soil within a few weeks or be dissolved in water, allowing components to be recovered and reused without hazardous chemical products. Dimitrios Papageorgiou, corresponding author, said the goal was to rethink electronic materials.

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