Water Plus Hydrophobic Surface Equals Electricity

Generating electric current using water is not a new concept.  It has been in use for decades with traditional power generation methods. Hydro power is electricity generated by rushing water. However researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have come up with another way to generate electric power using water.

The scientific community was amazed when it was discovered last year that water droplets spontaneously jump away from superhydrophobic surfaces during condensation. During this process they can gain electric charge. The team of MIT researchers who made this discovery last year has now come up with a means of converting this electric charge into electricity capable of powering small gadgets.

Imagine charging your phone with nothing more than the humidity in the air! While this concept is brilliant, it is still a long way from becoming a reality. In initial testing, the amount of power produced was vanishingly small however the team is working on increasing this. Needless to say if they can convert enough charge into electricity they will be able to work a small electronic device on that electricity.

As of now that seems a long way away in this science project. However it will be interesting to see how the researchers progress from here. The primary restriction is that condensation must occur and so this method is only going to work in areas high in humidity. So don’t think you will be able to charge that cell phone in the desert yet!