Carbon Materials for Evaporation- and Moisture-Induced Power Generation

Abstract

The conversion of gaseous and liquid water through processes like evaporation and condensation produces substantial amounts of energy. These phenomenas can be harnessed via hydrovoltaic technology, where the generated energy is efficiently transformed into electricity. Carbon materials are abundantly accessible, readily obtainable, facile to fabricate, possess a substantial specific surface area, demonstrate commendable power generation capabilities, and crucially, their surfaces can be modified in numerous ways to augment the interaction with water, making them exceptionally suitable for the development of hydrovoltaic devices. This review categorizes various carbon materials based on their dimensions and examines their respective advantages. A review of the basic theory of the interaction between water and solid materials is provided, emphasizing the development of an electric double layer at their contact. The review encompasses the development of carbon-based hydrovoltaic devices, detailing their types, generation mechanisms, and application areas, along with illustrative examples. Moreover, many effective methods for improving electrical output efficiency and prolonging the operational lifespan of these devices are delineated, emphasizing the modification of carbon materials and the optimization of device structural design. The comprehensive review of the major issues confronting hydrovoltaic devices is presented, along with prospective future development ways.