Fabrication of water droplet-based electricity generators consisting of aluminum

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K18876
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 26:Materials engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Kikuchi Tatsuya 北海道大学, 工学研究院, 教授 (60374584)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-06-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 水滴発電機 / アノード酸化 / 接触帯電 / 水滴発電機 / アルミニウム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the present investigation, water droplet-based electricity generators consisting of aluminum were fabricated by various surface finishing such as anodizing and magnetron sputtering. Several charged layers were formed on the aluminum surface. As ultrapure water was dropped onto the generators, the water droplet rapidly spread, reassembled, and slipped down, and instantaneous contact electrification and subsequent electricity generation occur by continuous water dropping. Commercially available LEDs connected in series can be instantaneously lighted during continuous water dropping onto the generators.

Free Research Field

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Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の遂行によって、社会に普遍的に存在するアルミニウム材料表面に帯電層を形成した極めて簡単な構造が、雨水を利用した水滴発電機として利用できることを実証した。従来より広く用いられるアルミニウム材料表面に一工夫を与え、これを屋外、例えば屋根や外壁に設置することにより、雨天時に電気エネルギーを回収する発電機として利用できる。このような水滴発電機を社会に広く張り巡らせば、社会に小さな発電所を張り巡らせることが可能になる。