Droplet-based electricity generator

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

D.19 × C.12 · Gravitational potential difference × Triboelectricfamily: Triboelectric

Measured or reported performance

1. peak output power density (instantaneous)50.1 W/m²device2020
   PTFE film on an ITO substrate with an aluminium electrode; impinging water droplets bridge the components into a closed loop; load resistance 332.0 kΩ (in a sweep from 1 kΩ to 100 MΩ the output current fell from 250.0 µA to 2.0 µA)
   refs [1]

best recorded power density (derived)

50.1 W/m² per active device area — peak output power density (instantaneous), device, 2020; instantaneous peak output power per unit device area at the optimal load; a per-impact peak, not a time-averaged density

Steps

1. 01
   Gravitational potential difference —drives→ Droplet contact electrificationdemonstratedclaim record

   gravitational → electrical · loss to thermal

   • falling droplets (rain) supplying the impact and spreading

   liquid

   refs [1]
2. 02
   Droplet contact electrification —produces→ Separated surface chargereplicatedclaim record

   electrical → electrical

   refs [1] [2]
3. 03
   Separated surface charge —converts into→ Electrical workestablishedclaim record

   electrical → electrical · loss to thermal

   • electrodes on the charged surfaces connected through a load

   refs [3]

Evidence for the complete composition · 1

1. [1]
   W. Xu, et al.. A droplet-based electricity generator with high instantaneous power density (2020)

   Nature 578, 392–396 · doi:10.1038/s41586-020-1985-6 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Evidence for the constituent relations · 3

1. [1]
   W. Xu, et al.. A droplet-based electricity generator with high instantaneous power density (2020)

   Nature 578, 392–396 · doi:10.1038/s41586-020-1985-6 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
2. [2]
   J. Yin, et al.. Generating electricity by moving a droplet of ionic liquid along graphene (2014)

   Nature Nanotechnology 9, 378–383 · doi:10.1038/nnano.2014.56 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
3. [3]
   H. B. Radousky, H. Liang. Energy harvesting: an integrated view of materials, devices and applications (2012)

   Nanotechnology 23, 502001 · doi:10.1088/0957-4484/23/50/502001 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record