Water Evaporation-Induced Power Generation Device using Conductive Porous AZO Films

Various porous materials have been investigated for use in the fabrication of water evaporation-induced power generation devices to meet the demand for independent power sources for small wireless sensors. Capillary tensions are driving the water flow in the narrow spaces of these devices. In this study, two device designs were investigated, one in which aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) was deposited on a flat substrate and the other was conceived with a substrate perforated by microchannels filled with porous AZO. In this study, it was demonstrated that the maximum output was 1.05 μW, when AZO was deposited on a flat substrate. It is expected that the power will increase, by connecting several similar devices together. This group of devices could be used as a compact and independent power supply.