Flowing salt water over this super-hydrophobic surface can generate electricity

Eurekalert  October, 3, 2018
Researchers at UC San Diego created a surface so hydrophobic that it enables water (and any ions it carries) to flow faster when passing over it; it holds a negative charge, so a rapid flow of positive ions in salt water with respect to this negatively charged surface results in an electrical potential difference, creating an electrical voltage. The surface was made by etching tiny ridges into a silicon substrate and then filling the ridges with oil. The proof-of-concept work could lead to the development of new power sources for lab-on-a-chip platforms and other microfluidics devices…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE 

SEM images of the super-hydrophobic surface. CREDIT: Images courtesy of Nature Communications