A Streaming Potential/Current-Based Microfluidic Direct Current Generator for Self-Powered Nanosystems

Rui Zhang; Sihong Wang; Min-Hsin Yeh; Caofeng Pan; Long Lin; Ruomeng Yu; Yan Zhang; Li Zheng; Zongxia Jiao; Zhong Lin Wang

doi:10.1002/adma.201502477

A Streaming Potential/Current-Based Microfluidic Direct Current Generator for Self-Powered Nanosystems

Adv Mater. 2015 Nov 4;27(41):6482-7. doi: 10.1002/adma.201502477. Epub 2015 Sep 25.

Authors

Rui Zhang^{1

2}, Sihong Wang¹, Min-Hsin Yeh¹, Caofeng Pan³, Long Lin¹, Ruomeng Yu¹, Yan Zhang³, Li Zheng¹, Zongxia Jiao², Zhong Lin Wang^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0245, USA.
² School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
³ Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100083, China.

PMID: 26404911
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201502477

Abstract

A simple but practical method to convert the hydroenergy of microfluids into continuous electrical output is reported. Based on the principle of streaming potential/current, a microfluidic generator (MFG) is demonstrated using patterned micropillar arrays as a quasi-porous flow channel. The continuous electrical output makes this MFG particularly suitable as a power source in self-powered systems. Using the proposed MFG to power a single nanowire-based pH sensor, a self-powered fluid sensor system is demonstrated.

Keywords: energy harvesting; generators; microfluids; self-powered nanosystems; streaming potential/current.