The heat from the sun causes water to evaporate. Scientists believe that about 50% of the solar energy absorbed at the Earth’s surface drives evaporation.
Now, an Australian company Strategic Elements aims to harvest green energy from ubiquitous atmospheric moisture.
Working together with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the State Association for Scientific and Applied Research (CSIRO), Strategic Elements has developed a self-charging battery that charges solely through the moisture in the air.
It utilizes the difference in humidity to charge its electrodes: the higher the humidity, the faster the charge
The battery technology is a liquid ink based on graphene oxide that can harvest energy from the humidity in the air. Graphene oxide has exceptional physicochemical properties. It can be dispersed in water and other solvents. Graphene-based materials can harvest energy from external factors such as moisture and heat. Formed by the oxidation of graphite, graphene oxide is also cheap and readily available.
The non-flammable self-charging battery is created from safe, green, and sustainable materials, and can also be printed onto flexible plastic.
The technology has the potential to self-charge the battery-powered electronic devices removing the need for manual charging or wired power.
