Low Impedance Moisture Electric Generator for Wearable Devices

Abstract

As global warming intensifies and energy crises become more urgent, the significance of renewable energy technologies that transform sustainable and eco-friendly sources into electricity is becoming increasingly clear. Concurrently, the swift advancement of the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable devices poses an ongoing challenge in discovering efficient methods to power these portable electronics. Given the context, one of the energy conversion method has come under light, and that is: Moisture Electric Generation (MEG), of which is capable of generating power by moisture, and can be designed in various shapes or forms to be wearable, thereby fulfilling the power needs of IoT devices. In this thesis, we have analysed some of the state-of-the-art MEG devices, focusing on its key performance factors: distinct mechanism, choice of structure, and selection of material. In the meanwhile, we have also developed a planar MEG device by integrating MXene with anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes, and examined its structural, morphological, water absorption and conductivity properties via varies characterization method. With our selection of additives, MEG showed excellent water absorption, retention, and ionic conductivity, resulting in significant improvements in power density, reaching 3.47 mW/cm3 at 90% relative humidity. We successfully integrated MEGs arrays into fabrics, enabling wearable devices to be powered even at environments with low humidity. Our work provides an innovative strategy for fabricating high-performance MEGs. This approach has great potential for resilient and eco-friendly power generation in wearable devices, capable of meeting challenging operating conditions and battery-free scenarios.