A self-sustained moist-electric generator with enhanced energy density and longevity through a bilayer approach†

Abstract

Although MEG is being developed as a green renewable energy technology, there remains significant room for improvement in self-sustained power supply, generation duration, and energy density. In this study, we present a self-sustained, high-performance MEG device with a bilayer structure. The lower hydrogel layer incorporates graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the active materials, whereas the upper aerogel layer is comprised of pyrrole-modified graphene oxide (PGO). This design generates a dual-gradient structure (ion density gradient and relative humidity gradient), enabling continuous power generation from the intrinsic moisture in the hydrogel. The device can operate for up to 16 days without external water and extend its operation to 45 days with added moisture. Remarkably, encapsulating this MEG maintains its high performance output even after nearly three months. The short-circuit current of MEG reaches 1695 μA, with an energy density of 809.2 μW h cm⁻², which is considerably higher than those reported in previous studies on MEG. This work highlights a promising approach for long-term, self-sustained power generation, with potential applications in environmental sensing and low-power devices.