Electricity from snowfall
Researchers in the US are working on an amazing device that generates electricity from falling snow. It’s a first of its kind and would revolutionize countries without access to reliable electric sources. This device eliminates the need for batteries, it is small, thin and flexible like a sheet of plastic and intended for remote and isolated areas.
The engineers at UCLA, who published the paper in Nano Energy, called the device a “snow-based triboelectric nanogenerator” (TENG). Its output is 0.2 mW/sq meter.
When snow comes into contact with silicone, it generates an electric current. Snow has a positive charge and releases electrons. The silicone of the device has a negative charge. A team of researchers analyzed a wide range of materials and found that silicone is the best at producing electricity when it comes into contact with snow.
As winter often means weaker solar panels, the new device could be incorporated into them to improve their performance during the winter months. It could potentially used in the winter sports industry and in creating new wearable devices for winter athletes.
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Author: PC-GR
The World of Technology
