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Scaling up nanoscale water-driven energy conversion into evaporation-driven engines and generators

Author

Listed:
  • Xi Chen

    (Columbia University)

  • Davis Goodnight

    (Columbia University)

  • Zhenghan Gao

    (Columbia University)

  • Ahmet H. Cavusoglu

    (Columbia University)

  • Nina Sabharwal

    (Columbia University)

  • Michael DeLay

    (Columbia University)

  • Adam Driks

    (Loyola University Chicago)

  • Ozgur Sahin

    (Columbia University
    Columbia University)

Abstract

Evaporation is a ubiquitous phenomenon in the natural environment and a dominant form of energy transfer in the Earth’s climate. Engineered systems rarely, if ever, use evaporation as a source of energy, despite myriad examples of such adaptations in the biological world. Here, we report evaporation-driven engines that can power common tasks like locomotion and electricity generation. These engines start and run autonomously when placed at air–water interfaces. They generate rotary and piston-like linear motion using specially designed, biologically based artificial muscles responsive to moisture fluctuations. Using these engines, we demonstrate an electricity generator that rests on water while harvesting its evaporation to power a light source, and a miniature car (weighing 0.1 kg) that moves forward as the water in the car evaporates. Evaporation-driven engines may find applications in powering robotic systems, sensors, devices and machinery that function in the natural environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Xi Chen & Davis Goodnight & Zhenghan Gao & Ahmet H. Cavusoglu & Nina Sabharwal & Michael DeLay & Adam Driks & Ozgur Sahin, 2015. "Scaling up nanoscale water-driven energy conversion into evaporation-driven engines and generators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-7, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8346
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8346
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    Cited by:

    1. Ariel Ma & Jian Yu & William Uspal, 2021. "Generating Electricity from Natural Evaporation Using PVDF Thin Films Incorporating Nanocomposite Materials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Darjan Podbevšek & Yeojin Jung & Maheen K. Khan & Honghui Yu & Raymond S. Tu & Xi Chen, 2024. "The role of water mobility on water-responsive actuation of silk," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Artem Holstov & Graham Farmer & Ben Bridgens, 2017. "Sustainable Materialisation of Responsive Architecture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-20, March.
    4. Emily Birch & Ben Bridgens & Meng Zhang & Martyn Dade-Robertson, 2021. "Bacterial Spore-Based Hygromorphs: A Novel Active Material with Potential for Architectural Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, April.

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