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Peer-reviewed

Leaf-based energy harvesting and storage utilizing hygroscopic iron hydrogel for continuous power generation

Shuai Guo; Yaoxin Zhang; Zhen Yu; Ming Dai; Xuanchen Liu; Hongbo Wang; Siqi Liu; J. Justin Koh; Wanxin Sun; Yuan Ping Feng; Yuanzheng Chen; Lin Yang; Peng Sun; Geyu Lu; Cunjiang Yu; Wenshuai Chen; Stefaan De Wolf; Zuankai Wang; Swee Ching Tan

Nature Communications · 2025

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Summary

In the era of big data, developing next-generation self-powered continuous energy harvesting systems is of great importance. Taking advantage of fallen leaves' specific structural advantage gifted by nature, we propose a facile approach to convert fallen leaves into energy harvesters from ubiquitous moisture, based on surface treatments and asymmetric coating of hygroscopic iron hydrogels. Upon moisture absorption, a water gradient is established between areas with/without hydrogel coating, and maintained due to gel-like behaviors and leaf veins for water retention and diffusion restriction, thus forming electrical double layers over the leaf surface and showing capacitance-like behavior for energy charging and discharging. Besides, the specific leaf cell structures with small grooves enab

Source type
Peer-reviewed study
DOI
10.1038/s41467-025-60341-z
Catalogue ID
NRmo3d4gae-08q
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