Scientists Develop Electricity Generator That Can Light Up 100 Led Bulbs With A Single Raindrop

By: | February 21st, 2020

Image courtesy Nature

Researchers from City University of Hong Kong have developed a droplet-based electricity generator (DEG). This technology is capable of generating power to light up 100 LED light bulbs with a single drop of water.

Scientists are hopeful that this tech can help us in dealing with the world’s energy crisis.

DEG has the power density thousands of times bigger than its counterparts. This revolutionary tech provides us the amazing way to harvest environmental energy around us in water and rain. 

Lead author and engineer Zuankai Wang, said, “Our research shows that a drop of 100 microlitres of water released from a height of 15 centimetres can generate a voltage of over 140 volts.”

“The power generated can light up 100 small LED light bulbs.”

Science behind: These innovative generators are based on the triboelectric effect. Triboelectric effect generates power when certain materials come into contact with each other, with the friction causing them to trade electrons.

This ground-breaking technology can be used in various settings where water meets a solid surface. So the hulls of boats and even umbrellas can be used to utilize the low-frequency kinetic energy in water.

Nidhi Goyal

Nidhi is a gold medalist Post Graduate in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

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