Power generation from water flowing through three-dimensional graphene foam

Abstract

Three-dimensional graphene foam (GF) is synthesized by CVD. When water flows through GF, electricity is induced. The direction of the induced current is dominated by the flow direction of water; the value of induced current is related to the flow velocity but has no relationship with the flow direction and external bias voltage.

All‐Printed Porous Carbon Film for Electricity Generation from Evaporation‐Driven Water Flow

“…Converting ambient energy into electricity is an indispensable component for building low‐cost, green, self‐powered devices and systems . In the past 15 years, a number of theoretical and experimental studies on carbon materials, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanoparticles, and graphene, have shown potential to generate electricity through interaction with solutions, which has attracted intensive attention. However, the previously proposed mechanisms, including electron drag, pulsating asymmetrical ratchet, mutual coupling of water dipoles and free charge carriers, streaming potential, drawing potential, and triboelectrification, remain controversial.…”

Interactions between Graphene‐Based Materials and Water Molecules toward Actuator and Electricity‐Generator Applications

“…In another study, a 3D graphene‐foam (GF)‐based power generator was studied in response to water flow ( Figure a) . A current of 10 μA could be induced once water flowed through the 3D‐GF with a velocity of 10 cm s −1 (Figure b).…”

“…c) Current output produced by flowing water through the 3D‐GF as a function of flow velocity. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2013, Royal Society of Chemistry.…”

“…Among these applications, fabricated devices based on the interactions between water molecules with graphene and/or its derivatives are of considerable interest as the energy and environmental crisis grow worse in the modern world. For example, these interactions can induce the conversion of chemical energy to electric and/or mechanical energy, which is potentially profitable for various applications such as sensors, actuators, robots, switches, artificial muscles, and electricity generators . Benefiting from the large available surface area, the unique electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of graphene and/or its derivatives, as well as the ease of structure functionalization, device‐oriented applications based on the interactions between graphene materials and water molecules have become of increasing concern .…”

Electric Power Generation through the Direct Interaction of Pristine Graphene‐Oxide with Water Molecules

“…Among these energy harvesting approaches, water‐enabled power generation is recently rising as a promising method for electric power generation (EPG) due to the ubiquity of water and its fascinating interaction with carbon‐based materials . Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain the origin of EPG including streaming potential, coupling effect, electron drag, charged ion drifting, and interface charging–discharging process . Based on the functional group gradient derived from the electrochemical treatment, we have recently demonstrated an EPG process by the formation of gradient ion distribution …”