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http://newatlas.com/harnessing-electricity-from-the-air/16137/
Scientists hope to collect electricity from the air
Ben CoxworthBen CoxworthAugust 25th, 2010
‘Hygroelectric’ collectors could someday harness atmospheric electricityNikola Tesla once dreamed of being able to harness electricity from the air. Now, research being conducted at Brazil’s University of Campinas (UC) is indicating that such a scenario may indeed become a reality. Professor Fernando Galembeck, a UC chemist, is leading the study into the ways in which electricity builds up and spreads in the atmosphere, and how it could be collected. “Our research could pave the way for turning electricity from the atmosphere into an alternative energy source for the future,” he stated. “Just as solar energy could free some households from paying electric bills, this promising new energy source could have a similar effect.”
Scientists once believed that water droplets in the atmosphere were electrically neutral, even after having come into contact with charged dust particles. Galembeck and his UC team, however, have shown that this isn’t the case. In a lab experiment, they noted that tiny particles of silica and aluminum phosphate became negatively and positively charged (respectively) when circulated in highly-humid air. “This was clear evidence that water in the atmosphere can accumulate electrical charges and transfer them to other materials it comes into contact with,” Galembeck explained. “We are calling this ‘hygroelectricity,’ meaning ‘humidity electricity’.”
He now pictures collectors, not unlike solar cells, that could someday collect and distribute hygroelectricity from the air. Just as solar cells work best in sunny places, his collectors would do best in humid parts of the world. He even believes it’s possible that by diminishing the electrical charge in the air, his collectors could prevent lightning, especially if mounted on top of tall buildings. His team is currently experimenting with different metals, to find out which would work best for capturing atmospheric electricity and preventing lightning strikes.
“These are fascinating ideas that new studies by ourselves and by other scientific teams suggest are now possible,” he said. “We certainly have a long way to go. But the benefits in the long range of harnessing hygroelectricity could be substantial.”
A report on Galembeck’s research was presented this week at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Agamemnonhttp://electronicdesign.com/power/harvesting-power-using-triboelectric-generators
Harvesting Power Using Triboelectric Generators
Jan 31, 2014 William WongResearchers at the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology are harvesting energy using triboelectric effect technology, or contact electrification. Processor Zhong Lin Wang and his students are taking advantage of the triboelectric effect to harvest small amounts of energy, essentially turning static electricity into something useful. They can power LEDs and other devices using the harvested energy (see the figure).
Static electricity is a form of the triboelectric effect. It occurs when some materials are rubbed together and the friction generates static electricity. Walking over a rug on a dry day and touching a metal doorknob is shocking, but not too useful. Georgia Tech researchers can turn this shock into manageable power that could drive sensors and mobile devices.
The approach uses two modes of operation. In one, two materials are brought into contact with each other. In the other, two materials slide against each other. The amount of energy is tiny. But like most energy harvesting technologies, the collection of these small amounts enables useful work to be done, whether it’s lighting an LED or running a microcontroller.
The triboelectric generator has increased power output density by a factor of 100,000. In theory, a square meter could provide 300 W. Originally, the team at Georgia Tech was investigating piezoelectric generators, which use movement and different underlying technology. Triboelectric generators are a laboratory phenomenon now, but practical uses are on the near horizon.
Agamemnon
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