Nanodevice produces continuous electricity from evaporation

Nanodevice produces continuous electricity from evaporation

A nanodevice developed at EPFL produces an autonomous, stable current from evaporating saltwater by using heat and light to control the movement of ions and electrons. Previously, researchers in the Laboratory of Nanoscience for Energy Technology (LNET) in EPFL's School of Engineering reported a platform for studying the hydrovoltaic (HV) effect—a phenomenon that allows electricity to be harvested when fluid is passed over the charged surface of…

Energy from salt water: the new Swiss nanodevice that uses evaporation, light and heat - Economic Scenarios

In the ongoing debate over future energy sources, often dominated by grandiose yet sometimes unrealistic visions, true innovation tends to lie in technical details and materials science. Far from facile enthusiasm for immature technologies, applied research continues to make great strides. A concrete and technically relevant example comes from Switzerland, more specifically from the Laboratory of Nanosciences for Energy Technologies (LNET) at th…