Hydrovoltaic power generation from multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The hydrovoltaic effect, which is a voltage generated at the interface of water with polarizable materials, is an exciting new frontier for environmentally friendly electrical power generation. Recently reported hydrovoltaic devices utilize different nanomaterial substrates, most of which suffer from low power output (especially under normal environmental conditions). Herein, we report a high strength, highly flexible, lightweight, thermally and chemically stable, surface functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (FMWCNT), supported on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The resultant devices made from this material provide a myriad of benefits including high power generation (210 μW g⁻¹) even under high humidity, making it less prone to damage or environmental degradation during long-term exposure. Achieving high power output from stable devices is of utmost importance in taking hydrovoltaics from an interesting phenomenon measured in the lab to a real competitor in the renewable energy market.