Light-Assisted Polyproton Dissociated PAAm-PA Hydrogel-Based Moisture-Driven Electricity Generator with a Broad Operating Range

Abstract

Due to its widespread availability and spontaneity, moisture electricity generation (MEG) holds unique advantages in self-powered systems. However, it faces challenges, including the limitations of relying on a single kind of power generation and insufficient output performance. Inspired by the mechanisms of water absorption of plants, this paper explores a light-moisture coordinated electricity generating hydrogel (L-MEGH) device with flexible, scalable, and highly efficient energy conversion performance, which is obtained through the UV polymerization of hydrophilic acrylamide (AAM) and phytic acid (PA) in the presence of photosensitizers. The obtained hydrogel demonstrates superior moisture absorption and remarkable electricity generation stability across a range of humidity conditions. Notably, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of the L-MEGH increased from 0.675 to 0.838 V after the addition of photosensitizers (Erythrosin B, E) (the significant enhancement, up to 24%), and the short-circuit current (Isc) reaching 635.543 µA. This L-MEGH can realize stable electrical output even under extreme temperatures, producing 0.5 V at −20 °C for 45 h. The scalable L-MEGHs (connected on-demand in series/parallel) can power various commercial electronics, including nighttime illumination, mobile phones, and health monitoring sensors. This work pioneers a sustainable power generation pathway capable of enhancing performance through the hybrid collection of multiple natural energy sources.