1
|
Wu H, Mendel N, van der Ham S, Shui L, Zhou G, Mugele F. Charge Trapping-Based Electricity Generator (CTEG): An Ultrarobust and High Efficiency Nanogenerator for Energy Harvesting from Water Droplets. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e2001699. [PMID: 32627893 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202001699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Strategies toward harvesting energy from water movements are proposed in recent years. Reverse electrowetting allows high efficiency energy generation, but requires external electric field. Triboelectric nanogenerators, as passive energy harvesting devices, are limited by the unstable and low density of tribo-charges. Here, a charge trapping-based electricity generator (CTEG) is proposed for passive energy harvesting from water droplets with high efficiency. The hydrophobic fluoropolymer films utilized in CTEG are pre-charged by a homogeneous electrowetting-assisted charge injection (h-EWCI) method, allowing an ultrahigh negative charge density of 1.8 mC m-2 . By utilizing a dedicated designed circuit to connect the bottom electrode and top electrode of a Pt wire, instantaneous currents beyond 2 mA, power density above 160 W m-2 , and energy harvesting efficiency over 11% are achieved from continuously falling water droplets. CTEG devices show excellent robustness for energy harvesting from water drops, without appreciable degradation for intermittent testing during 100 days. These results exceed previously reported values by far. The approach is not only applicable for energy harvesting from water droplets or wave-like oscillatory fluid motion, but also opens up avenues toward other applications requiring passive electric responses, such as diverse sensors and wearable devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
- National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
- Physics of Complex Fluids, Faculty of Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7500AE, The Netherlands
| | - Niels Mendel
- Physics of Complex Fluids, Faculty of Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7500AE, The Netherlands
| | - Stijn van der Ham
- Physics of Complex Fluids, Faculty of Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7500AE, The Netherlands
| | - Lingling Shui
- National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
| | - Guofu Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
- National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
- Academy of Shenzhen Guohua Optoelectronics, Shenzhen, 518110, P. R. China
| | - Frieder Mugele
- Physics of Complex Fluids, Faculty of Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7500AE, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wu H, Dey R, Siretanu I, van den Ende D, Shui L, Zhou G, Mugele F. Electrically Controlled Localized Charge Trapping at Amorphous Fluoropolymer-Electrolyte Interfaces. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1905726. [PMID: 31823510 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201905726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Charge trapping is a long-standing problem in electrowetting on dielectric, causing reliability reduction and restricting its practical applications. Although this phenomenon is investigated macroscopically, the microscopic investigations are still lacking. In this work, the trapped charges are proven to be localized at the three-phase contact line (TPCL) region by using three detecting methods-local contact angle measurements, electrowetting (EW) probe, and Kelvin probe force microscopy. Moreover, it is demonstrated that this EW-assisted charge injection (EWCI) process can be utilized as a simple and low-cost method to deposit charges on fluoropolymer surfaces. Charge densities near the TPCL up to 0.46 mC m-2 and line widths of the deposited charge ranging from 20 to 300 µm are achieved by the proposed EWCI method. Particularly, negative charge densities do not degrade even after a "harsh" testing with a water droplet on top of the sample surfaces for 12 h, as well as after being treated by water vapor for 3 h. These findings provide an approach for applications which desire stable and controllable surface charges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
- National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
- Physics of Complex Fluids, Faculty of Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7500AE, the Netherlands
| | - Ranabir Dey
- Physics of Complex Fluids, Faculty of Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7500AE, the Netherlands
- Dynamics of Complex Fluids, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-organization, Am Fassberg 17, Goettingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Igor Siretanu
- Physics of Complex Fluids, Faculty of Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7500AE, the Netherlands
| | - Dirk van den Ende
- Physics of Complex Fluids, Faculty of Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7500AE, the Netherlands
| | - Lingling Shui
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
- National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
| | - Guofu Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
- National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China
- Shenzhen Guohua Optoelectronics Tech. Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, 518110, P. R. China
| | - Frieder Mugele
- Physics of Complex Fluids, Faculty of Science and Technology, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, 7500AE, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|