Inspenet, June 24, 2023.
Researchers at the University of California have discovered a simple and inexpensive way to generate electricity from snowflakes. Although each snowflake is considered unique due to its various configurations, snow also has an interesting property that has rarely been exploited until now: its electrical potential.
In addition to current energy, there is a method called triboelectricity that is used to generate electricity. This phenomenon occurs when two materials with different charges come into contact, causing one of them to give up electrons to the other. Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles have used this electrical principle to develop an innovative technological system that can generate electricity during a snowfall, thus harnessing the energy potential present in the snow.
Snowflakes in combination with other elements
The starting point is a negatively charged silicone sheet, while the snow has a positive charge. Therefore, when these two elements come into contact, an electric current is generated. The American researchers, after experimenting with various materials such as aluminum foil, discovered that silicone was the ideal material to develop their technological device: a flexible sheet with low production cost. To create the prototype, they used the 3D printing technique to manufacture the sheet, which incorporates an electrode that captures the electrical charge.
This innovative technological project presents various application possibilities. On the one hand, current solar panels experience a notable decrease in their efficiency during snowfall. However, if this new type of sheet were used, the solar panels could take advantage of both photovoltaic and triboelectric energy.
On the other hand, this technology would be ideal for integration into wearable devices used in snow sports, such as boots or skis, turning them into physical activity sensors. This would create vast possibilities to improve the performance and functionality of these devices in snowy environments.
The research team led by Richard Kaner, one of the promoters of this technological project, has worked on the development of other additional technologies. These include membranes used in the oil industry to separate oil from water.
In 2017, they also created a prototype battery that has the ability to produce hydrogen from solar energy, using common metals such as nickel, iron, and cobalt. These innovations demonstrate the wide scope and diversity of the projects undertaken by Richard Kaner’s laboratory.
Source: https://www.imnovation-hub.com/es/energia/blanca-electricidad-energia-copos-nieve/?_adin=02021864894
Photo: https://www.noticiasdenavarra.com/sociedad/2021/01/02/copos-nieve-son-grandes-hay-2190152.html
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