Double-layer humidity to electricity converter based on oxide powders with opposite ionic conductivity for operation without humidity gradient
Danilenko I. Gorban O. Shylo A. Velasco L.F. Lyubchuk S. Kumar N. Lyubchuk S. Appazov N. Lyubchuk A.
1 October 2025Elsevier B.V.
Journal of Power Sources
2025#652
This article inform about creating a new variant of humidity to electricity converter (HEC) based on different types of zirconia powders – double-layer HEC. The powders that were used in the work differ in chemical composition (Y- and Mg-stabilized ZrO2) and surface properties (positive and negative charged) and allow realizing the charge separation of moving water ions and generate the electric power under ion gradient diffusion in the presence of water molecules in the atmosphere without humidity gradient. Due to the opposite ionic conductivity with respect to protons and OH groups, this HEC separate charges more efficiently compared with converters operating only by the streaming potential mechanism under humidity gradient conditions. The resulting humidity to electricity converter can generate, for a long time, an open-circuit voltage of up to 120 mV combined with a power density of 2.2 μW on the optimal load resistance. Reducing the internal resistance of the converter by adding graphite particles to both parts of the converter and creating a network of percolation paths for water ions and electrons made it possible to increase the open-circuit voltage to 0.16 V, reduce the internal resistance to 120 Ohm and increase the power to 56 μW (4.7 μW/cm2).
Charge separation , Electric power , Humidity to electricity converter , Oxide nanoparticles , Porous channels , Surface charge
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Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering NAS of Ukraine, Nauki av. 46, Kyiv, 03028, Ukraine
Nanomaterials Research & Development sp.z.o.o, Krakow, 30-607, Poland
Department of Chemistry, Royal Military Academy, Avenue de la Renaissance 30, Brussels, 1000, Belgium
DeepTechLab, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade Lusofona, Campo Grande, 376, Lisboa, Portugal
Laboratory of Engineering Profile “Physical and Chemical Methods of Analysis”, Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, Aiteke bi Str., 29A, Kyzylorda, 120014, Kazakhstan
CASCATACHUVA ltd, Praça João Raimundo, N 44, Lj A Cova da Piedade, Almada, 2805-336, Portugal
Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering NAS of Ukraine
Nanomaterials Research & Development sp.z.o.o
Department of Chemistry
DeepTechLab
Laboratory of Engineering Profile “Physical and Chemical Methods of Analysis”
CASCATACHUVA ltd
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