Evaporation-driven oscillator generator

Matrix context

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

D.17 × C.23 · Humidity gradient × Electrokineticfamily: ElectrokineticD.17 × C.14 · Humidity gradient × Electromagnetic inductionfamily: Electromagnetic induction

Measured or reported performance

1. electrical power (burst peak)60 μWlaboratory2015
   oscillatory HYDRA engine coupled to an electromagnetic generator, 100 kΩ load, water at 30 °C, HYDRAs covering 9.6 cm × 7.6 cm
   refs [1]
2. electrical power (time average)1.8 μWlaboratory2015
   the same run; waiting periods between bursts bring the average down — per the authors, the microwatt scale is significant for the small water area covered; power density is not stated per area
   refs [1]

Steps

1. 01
   Humidity gradient —drives→ Evaporationestablishedclaim record

   chemical → chemical · loss to thermal

   liquid · humidity difference required

   refs [1] [2]
2. 02
   Evaporation —produces→ Mechanical motiondemonstratedclaim record

   chemical → mechanical

   • hygroscopic spores or films that swell and shrink with humidity, driving a piston or oscillator

   refs [1]
3. 03
   Mechanical motion —drives→ Electromagnetic inductionestablishedclaim record

   mechanical → electrical · loss to thermal

   • a magnet moving relative to a coil

   conductor required · magnetic field required

   refs [3] [4]
4. 04
   Electromagnetic induction —produces→ Charge carriersestablishedclaim record

   electrical → electrical · loss to thermal

   refs [3] [5]
5. 05
   Charge carriers —converts into→ Electrical workestablishedclaim record

   electrical → electrical · loss to thermal

   • carriers driven through an external load at the potential difference the source maintains

   refs [6]

Evidence for the complete composition · 1

1. [1]
   X. Chen et al.. Scaling up nanoscale water-driven energy conversion into evaporation-driven engines and generators (2015)

   Nature Communications 6, 7346 · doi:10.1038/ncomms8346 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Evidence for the constituent relations · 6

1. [1]
   X. Chen et al.. Scaling up nanoscale water-driven energy conversion into evaporation-driven engines and generators (2015)

   Nature Communications 6, 7346 · doi:10.1038/ncomms8346 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
2. [2]
   A. Bejan. Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics (4th ed.) (2016)

   Wiley · doi:10.1002/9781119245964 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
3. [3]
   M. Faraday. Experimental researches in electricity (1832)

   Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 122, 125–162 · doi:10.1098/rstl.1832.0006 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
4. [4]
   S. P. Beeby, et al.. A micro electromagnetic generator for vibration energy harvesting (2007)

   Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering 17, 1257 · doi:10.1088/0960-1317/17/7/007 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
5. [5]
   L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz, L. P. Pitaevskii. Electrodynamics of Continuous Media (Course of Theoretical Physics, Vol. 8, 2nd ed.) (1984)

   Pergamon · book, no DOI · record
6. [6]
   N. W. Ashcroft, N. D. Mermin. Solid State Physics (1976)

   Holt, Rinehart and Winston · book, no DOI · record