Humidity-induced dynamic coordination drives the oscillatory migration of ions for sustainable energy harvesting.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41680143.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-69206-5 and PMC identifier 13009292.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
Moisture-induced ion diffusion in nanostructured materials is a promising route for high-performance power generation, yet achieving the continuous ion migration necessary for long-term operation remains challenging. Here, we report a moisture-electricity conversion mechanism capable of sustained electrical output. We demonstrate that humidity fluctuations regulate the dynamic coordination between iodide ions (I<sup>-</sup>) and iodine molecules (I<sub>2</sub>), driving the oscillatory migration of I<sup>-</sup> to generate a continuous alternating ion current (AC). Crucially, this coordination process avoids charge exchange, while electricity generation is achieved through moisture-driven ion transport. The device achieves a current output of 33.2 µA cm<sup>-</sup>² and exhibits sustainable performance recovery under natural humidity fluctuations. This mechanism remains effective even under minimal humidity gradients (13% RH), ensuring adaptability to diverse weather conditions. Our strategy, applicable to various gel materials, utilizes environmental humidity fluctuations as a power source for ion diffusion, offering a fundamental solution for long-term, autonomous energy harvesting.