Australian researchers have discovered new insights into how water generates electricity.
The RMIT University and the University of Melbourne research team, led by Dr Joe Berry, Dr Peter Sherrell, and Professor Amanda Ellis, found that water moving across a surface can generate an electrical charge that is up to 10 times stronger than previous research thought.
The team observed that when a water droplet encounters a tiny bump or rough spot on a surface, it builds up force until it suddenly jumps past the obstacle, creating a lasting electrical charge.
Berry said an electric shock inside a fuel container with flammable liquids could be dangerous, so the charge build-up must be safely discharged after a liquid has moved on but possible practical applications of the discovery do include improving fuel storage safety, better energy storage, and increasing charging abilities.
“Most people would observe that rainwater drips down a window or a car windscreen in a haphazard way, but would be unaware that it generates a tiny bit of electrical charge,” said Sherrell, whose research at RMIT’s School of Science specialises in capturing and using ambient energy from the environment.
“Previously, scientists have understood this phenomenon as occurring when the liquid leaves a surface, which goes from wet to dry.
“In this work we have shown that charge can be created when the liquid first contacts the surface, when it goes from dry to wet, and is 10 times stronger than wet-to-dry charging… importantly, this charge does not disappear."
