KR-20260066880-A - DOUBLE-LAYER MOISTURE-BASED ENERGY GENERATOR WITH VERTICAL AEROGEL STRUCTURE

Abstract

A double-layer moisture-based energy generator having a vertical aerogel structure is disclosed. An element used in the generator may include: a hygroscopic part capable of absorbing water; and a generating part having a potential gradient between a first part having high wettability or high humidity in contact with the hygroscopic part and a second part having lower wettability or lower humidity than the first part, the first part being spaced apart from the first part.

Inventors

• 박철민
• 조카이잉
• 짠광터
• 이승유
• 김관호

Assignees

• 연세대학교 산학협력단

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241105

Claims (15)

1. A hygroscopic part capable of absorbing water; and A power generation unit comprising: a first portion having high wettability or high humidity in contact with the moisture absorbing portion, and a second portion having lower wettability or lower humidity than the first portion, spaced apart from the first portion; wherein a potential gradient occurs between the first portion and the second portion. Junction structure moisture power generation device.
2. In paragraph 1, The above moisture absorbent part comprises Hydroxypropyl Cellulose (HPC)-Konjac Glucomannan (KGM), Junction structure moisture power generation device.
3. In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned power generation unit comprises Poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid)-Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PSSA-PVA), Junction structure moisture power generation device.
4. In paragraph 3, The above-mentioned power generation unit has an aerogel phase, Junction structure moisture power generation device.
5. In paragraph 4, The above-mentioned power generation unit has a pore structure that extends in a direction gradually away from the surface in contact with the above-mentioned moisture absorption unit in at least a portion. Junction structure moisture power generation device.
6. In paragraph 1, The above-described junction structure moisture power generation element further comprises a first electrode in contact with the first part; and a second electrode in contact with the second part. Obtaining electrical energy from the potential gradient generated between the first electrode and the second electrode, Junction structure moisture power generation device.
7. In paragraph 1, The above-described junction structure moisture power generation element has a double-layer structure in which the moisture absorption part and the power generation part are stacked, or has a core-shell structure in which one of the moisture absorption part and the power generation part forms a core and the other forms a shell surrounding the core. Junction structure moisture power generation device.
8. A step of forming a bonding structure to bond a power generation unit so as to make at least partial contact with a hygroscopic part capable of absorbing water; The above-mentioned power generation unit is in at least partial contact with the above-mentioned moisture-absorbing unit, and a potential gradient occurs between a first part in contact with the above-mentioned moisture-absorbing unit having high wettability or high humidity and a second part spaced apart from the first part having lower wettability or lower humidity than the first part. Method for manufacturing a moisture-powered device with a junction structure.
9. In paragraph 8, The above hygroscopic part is prepared by solidifying a solution containing Hydroxypropyl Cellulose (HPC) and Konjac Glucomannan (KGM). Method for manufacturing a moisture-powered device with a junction structure.
10. In paragraph 8, The above power generation unit prepares a solution containing Poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid)-Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PSSA-PVA) by freezing and freeze-drying it. Method for manufacturing a moisture-powered device with a junction structure.
11. In Paragraph 10, The above-mentioned power generation unit gradually freezes the PSSA-PVA from one side to form an ice structure extending in a direction in which a temperature gradient is formed from the one side, and freeze-dries the extended ice structure to form a pore structure extending in one direction. In the above bonding structure formation step, the area around one end of the extended pore structure is the first part, and the area around one end of the extended pore structure is the second part, and bonded to the moisture absorbent part. Method for manufacturing a moisture-powered device with a junction structure.
12. In paragraph 8, The above method for manufacturing a moisture-powered device with a junction structure further comprises an electrode forming step of forming a first electrode in contact with the first part and forming a second electrode in contact with the second part. Method for manufacturing a moisture-powered device with a junction structure.
13. In paragraph 8, In the above bonding structure formation step, the moisture-absorbing part and the power generation part are formed into a stacked double-layer structure. Method for manufacturing a moisture-powered device with a junction structure.
14. In paragraph 8, In the above bonding structure formation step, one of the moisture-absorbing part or the power generation part is formed into a core-shell structure that encloses the other. Method for manufacturing a moisture-powered device with a junction structure.
15. Includes a moisture power generation element with a junction structure according to paragraph 1, The above-mentioned junction structure moisture power generation device generates electrical energy from pressure applied by a living organism or the exhalation of a living organism, and A monitoring unit for monitoring the repetitive generation of the above electrical energy, Biological monitoring device.

Description

Double-layer moisture-based energy generator with vertical aerogel structure The present invention relates to a double-layer moisture-based energy generator having a vertical aerogel structure. Moisture-driven electric generators (MEGs) harvest electricity by utilizing the unique physicochemical properties of water and possess significant economic potential due to their ability to collect energy from widespread ambient moisture. Within the spectrum of energy harvesting technologies, MEGs stand out as renewable and eco-friendly energy storage systems because they produce electrical energy from common moisture based on simple material designs, thereby eliminating the need for complex auxiliary equipment. Significant advancements in MEGs have been achieved through the exploration of various materials and innovative structural designs. The spectrum of developed materials spans carbon-based materials, protein-based biomaterials, metal oxides, and polymers. Common characteristics of these functional materials include open nanostructures that facilitate the flow of water molecules under appropriate conductivity and moisture gradients. Structural architectures such as one-dimensional linear structures, two-dimensional film structures, and three-dimensional aerogels have been investigated, and various strategies have been devised to enhance electricity generation efficiency. For instance, innovative approaches have been adopted, such as utilizing porous materials to increase surface area, introducing oxygen-containing groups through O2 (oxygen) plasma treatment, developing bilayer structures, and leveraging synergistic effects. Streaming-type energy generators have been implemented by immersing a portion of the active material in a water reservoir to maintain a constant moisture supply, allowing water to flow through the material. However, this design is constrained by low portability and limited applicability in other fields. Subsequently, many studies have demonstrated the self-sufficiency of these devices by using hydrogels as water reservoirs and combining them with active materials. Consequently, MEGs have become suitable for various portable energy storage systems, as well as wearable and patch-type sensors. Despite numerous advancements in MEG devices, the need for a suitable high-humidity environment to operate these devices remains a significant limiting factor. Since the energy harvesting performance of MEGs is poor when humidity is below 40%, there is an urgent need for MEG configurations capable of operating efficiently under low-humidity conditions. The inventors anticipated that a water-collecting gel with high water affinity could efficiently collect moisture even under low-humidity conditions, thereby providing sufficient moisture to the energy-generating active material. By combining a water-collecting gel with an active material of a controlled form that facilitates transport, a high-performance MEG resistant to low humidity can be developed. Here, the inventors present a high-performance bilayer MEG that operates at low humidity. The developed MEG is based on a polymer aerogel in which micropores are preferentially aligned perpendicular to the surface and laminated over a water storage gel. An electrogenerating layer of poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PSSA-PVA) aerogel is developed via a freeze-drying process over a water collection layer composed of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)/Konjac glucomannan (KGM)/LiCl particles. This bilayer MEG stably generates an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of approximately 1.1 V for over 500 minutes at 20% relative humidity (RH) thanks to efficient water supply from the HPC-KGM gel to the aerogel. Furthermore, electrical energy harvesting is facilitated by the unique microstructure of the PSSA-PVA aerogel, in which the pores of the aerogel are preferentially aligned along the direction of water evaporation. The electrical output of the Vertical Aerogel-Water Collection Gel (VAWG) MEG can be adjusted by configuring the device in series or parallel, enabling it to drive existing sets of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The adaptability of the MEG as a sensor in low humidity conditions has also been demonstrated, and human activities in dry environments—such as breathing movements, finger touches, and repetitive knee flexion movements—were successfully monitored using the MEG's activity-sensitive current. Fig. 1. 3D bilayer structure of VAWG MEG. (a) Schematic of the structure and chemical composition of VAWG MEG. (b) Cross-sectional photograph of VAWG MEG. (c) Surface photograph of VAWG MEG. (d) FT-IR spectra of HPC-KGM gel and its individual components. (e) FT-IR spectra of PSSA-PVA aerogel and its individual components. (f) SEM image showing the structure of HPC-KGM gel. (g) Cross-sectional SEM image showing the vertical structure of PSSA-PVA aerogel. (h) Surface SEM image of PSSA-PVA aerogel. Fig. 2. VAWG MEG performance. (a) Measurement of long-term