New source of electricity created from “nothing”, based on humidity, promises to revolutionize the energy sector

The new source of electrical energy was developed from an experiment carried out by students in the USA and promises to revolutionize the renewable energy sector

Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass), in the United States, are developing a innovative technology which has the potential to generate electricity from air humidity. The discovery about a possible new source of renewable energy came unexpectedly when Professor Jun Yao and his team were working on an air humidity sensor.

During the experiment, one of the students forgot to plug in the device, but to everyone's surprise, the microtubes and nanowires continued to generate a weak electrical energy signal. This unusual fact aroused the curiosity of researchers, who began to investigate the potential of this discovery.

From that fortuitous event, UMass scientists developed a device called Air-gen, which uses protein nanowires grown from the bacterium Geobacter sulphurreducens. By connecting these nanowires to very thin electrodes, an electric current is generated from the humidity in the air. This promising technology offers a new source of clean, renewable and low-cost electrical energy.

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The importance of the discovery for the renewable energy sector

Professor Jun Yao highlighted the importance of this renewable discovery, stating that they are "literally creating electricity out of thin air". This non-polluting renewable electrical energy technology Can generate energy even indoors and in extremely dry regions such as the Sahara desert. In addition, the researchers' goal is to develop devices capable of powering small electronics, such as smart watches, health sensors and smartphones.

The UMass team didn't stop there. They continued their research and published an article in the journal Advanced Materials, in which they claim that almost any material can be turned into a device capable of capturing electricity from moisture. By incorporating nanopores with a diameter of less than 100 nanometers, water molecules can be captured and used to generate energy.

Air humidity is considered a great reserve of sustainable energy, since it is always present. That allow that electrical energy is generated continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, unlike other renewable sources, such as solar or wind energy, which are intermittent.

Generating renewable electricity from moisture

Other researchers are also exploring the field of hygroelectricity, that is, the generation of renewable electricity from moisture. A project funded by the European Union, called Catcher, seeks to transform atmospheric moisture into electricity. Researchers from all over the world are involved in this promising area, aiming to find innovative and sustainable solutions to meet society's energy demands.

The discovery of generating electricity from air humidity represents a significant advance in the field of renewable energy. With the potential to provide a clean, continuous source of energy, this technology can help mitigate the challenges faced by traditional energy sources and contribute to a more sustainable future.

As research advances and more advances are made in this area, it is expected that generating electricity from moisture will become a commercial reality and form an integral part of the global energy mix. This promising discovery has the potential to transform the way we produce and use energy, providing a cleaner, more renewable alternative to meet our energy needs.