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embargoed access
Embargoed until 2025-02-09
Copyright: Hu, Guangyu
Embargoed until 2025-02-09
Copyright: Hu, Guangyu
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Abstract
With the evolution of ever-changing intelligent electronics and the increasingly severe
electricity shortages, substantial efforts have been made to explore new technologies for powering
electronics. Moist-electric generation (MEG) devices, which can extract chemical energy in moisture
to generate electricity, have attracted intensive interest. However, the electric outputs of the most
reported MEG devices are still low. Herein, we present a novel strategy of coupling graphene oxide
(GO) based MEG device with the electrochemical cell (i.e., GO/galvanic MEG device) to boost power
outputs. HCl and HNO3 acids are employed to enhance the power outputs of the hybrid MEG device
through unique acidification treatments.
The GO/galvanic MEG device is fabricated through a simple solvent evaporation method.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic film, multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), GO, and
metal sheets are all the components of the device, which reflects the low-cost advantage. The power
outputs of the GO/galvanic MEG device are collected using a Keysight SourceMeter. Scanning
electron microscope (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)
and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are utilized to characterize the device. After optimizing
the fabrication parameters and using the unique acidification treatments, the hybrid MEG device
generated exceptional power outputs based on the synergetic mechanisms of proton diffusion and
galvanic oxidation.
A single hybrid GO/galvanic MEG device stably generates a maximum voltage output of 1.69
V and a highest current density of 182 μA∙cm-2 under 80% RH at room temperature. Notably, the
voltage output in this study is the apex among the reported GO-based MEG devices, while the current
density output is top-ranked. Impressively, in room humidity, the single GO/galvanic MEG device
directly powers a CASIO calculator, or a pressure sensor, or a LED light. Additionally, the simple
integration of several hybrid MEG units with a capacitor easily and efficiently drives the water
electrolysis and a commercial GPS tracker. This study demonstrates the vast potential of the
GO/galvanic MEG device for driving practical electronics by harvesting energy from ambient
moisture.