Science Daily November 20, 2019
Researchers in Singapore have developed a humidity digester composed of a moisture hydrogel based zinc and cobalt, cathode, photoanode, and a solar cell. Just like batteries, it generates power from atmospheric humidity instead of an electrolyte. The photoanodes, acting as a photo-electrocatalyst, oxidize the absorbed water in the presence of light to split water and produce energy. The hydrogel constantly replenishes the system with water that is pulled out from the air to sustain the energy generation process. The assembly generates electricity while dehumidifying the room. The second-generation cobalt hydrogel absorbs moisture faster than any commercially available drying agents. The device puts out a photocurrent of about 0.4 mA/cm2, which is relatively low. The researchers believe that the humidity digester is a possible replacement for air conditioners when its paired with a fan…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Abstract. Credit: Joule, November 20, 2019Â