Acrobatic polymer film developed at MIT harvests energy from water vapor

Revealing the true dimensions of power generation, an MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) research successfully depicts the ability to harvest energy accumulated in water vapor by means of a polymer film. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a well-known institute of broad perspectives such as science, technology, architecture and planning, engineering, humanities, arts, and social sciences, management and so on. MIT is being performing number of high tech researches which would be supposed to yield important results regarding future direction of the world. The very research itself illustrates how much it is significant not only in energy trade but also in sustainable power generation diminishing environmental pollution as well.

Researchers headed by Mingming Ma found a material which consists of two layers of polymer material called polypyrrole and a soft gel layer called polyol-borate. The layers are thick about 20-micrometers each. Duty of the first material is to provide structural support and latter swells as it absorbs water. Actually the output form of energy is mechanical work characterized by an acrobatic movement of the combined layers of polymer. Then this acts as an artificial muscle. Scientists who conducted the research point out that, by incorporating the two different kinds of polymers, a much bigger displacement, as well as a stronger force can be generated.

The Polymer Film

The film exploits the water gradient (distribution of water level) between dry and moist environments. The film harvests energy found in the water gradient between dry and water-rich environments. If it lies on a surface with even a small amount of moisture presents, then the bottom gel layer curls away. This exposes the polymer to the air where the water evaporates from its surface. The bit of film shows an acrobatic move and the cycle starts over. This behavior produces astonishing amount of force when it folds and unfolds. As researchers boast, a film weights 25 milligram can lift 380 times its own weight which is a very significant observation. According to the researchers, that is enough force to replace electronic actuators in small robotic arms. What’s more, it can do so without influencing the environment. If water is available, the film will work. Advantage of this property is not only as a mini-motor, but as an electric power source. The film can be made up of piezoelectric materials to generate electricity. Currently, the film can produce 5.6 Nano watts, which is enough to run ultra-low power micro or nano electronic device or can be used to drive a micro-mechanical system.

This research suggests us much more than it seems. This newly invented polymer film can be used in a number of places. In small scale this kind of power source can cater wearable electronic devices. As far as we know scientists, explorers and tourists face big difficulties in their fields when they run out of battery juice. This very method should be developed further to harvest energy in large scale.

Since now the world is turning to renewable energy this research can be mentioned revolutionary. In power plants huge amount of energy wasted in the form of heat which is capable of making water vapor and would be able to be converted to electricity by means of a collection of this type of films. The total responsibility of finding endless destinations of this marvel, is upon scientists making renewable energy is sustainable.

Article By: Arjuna Weerasinghe

Posted in: Sustainable Energy and Policy