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Scientists Discover New Way to Generate Clean Energy from Air
Nearly any material can be used to turn the energy in air humidity into electricity, scientists found in a discovery that could lead to continuously producing clean energy with little pollution. The research builds on previous work that showed energy could be pulled from the moisture in the air using material harvested from bacteria. The new study shows nearly any material can be used, like wood or silicon, as long as it can be smashed into small particles and remade with microscopic pores. This innovation generates enormous potential for harvesting clean electricity from thin air.
How Does it Work?
The air-powered generator, known as an “Air-gen,” offer continuous clean electricity since it uses the energy from humidity, which is always present, rather than depending on the sun or wind. Unlike solar panels or wind turbines, which need specific environments to thrive, Air-gens could be used anywhere. The device is dotted with tiny holes known as nanopores. These allow the water in the air to pass through in a way that would create a charge imbalance in the upper and lower parts of the device, effectively creating a battery that runs continuously.
What are the Advantages & Challenges?
The advantages of this innovation are that it uses nearly any material and could extract less from the environment than other forms of renewable energy. However, the device’s efficiency varies depending on the level of humidity in the environment. Less humidity means less energy can be harvested. Storing the electricity is also a separate issue, and the scientists must determine which material would be the most efficient to use in different climates. If the technology is optimized, it could be efficiently embedded in wall paint in a home, used on a larger scale in unused space in a city, or littered throughout an office’s hard-to-reach spaces. Engineering the Air-gen so that the same size device captures more energy is another challenge.
The Future of Air-Powered Generators
The entire earth is covered with a thick layer of humidity, making for an enormous source of clean energy. What’s been invented is like a small-scale, man-made cloud. Once optimized, it can be put anywhere, like a forest, while hiking on a mountain, in a desert, in a rural village, or on the road. The potential of this innovation is just the beginning in making use of that.
FAQs
What is an Air-gen?
An Air-gen is an air-powered generator that offers continuous clean electricity by using energy from humidity in the environment.
What materials can be used to make an Air-gen?
Nearly any material can be used to make an Air-gen, as long as it can be smashed into small particles and remade with microscopic pores.
Can Air-gens be used anywhere?
Yes. Unlike solar panels or wind turbines, which need specific environments to thrive, Air-gens can be used anywhere.
What are the challenges of using Air-gens to generate clean energy?
The device’s efficiency varies depending on the level of humidity in the environment. Less humidity means less energy can be harvested. Storing electricity is also a separate issue, and the scientists must determine which material would be the most efficient to use in different climates.
What is the potential of Air-gens as a clean energy source?
The entire earth is covered with a thick layer of humidity, making for an enormous source of clean energy. The potential of this innovation is just the beginning in making use of that.
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