Faradaic Reversible Electrodes Enable Programmable High‐Power Hydrovoltaic Energy Harvesting Across Broad Ionic Environments

Harvesting energy from water evaporation through hydrovoltaic devices provides a sustainable approach to electricity generation and decentralized power solutions. However, practical performance remains limited by low-current outputs (<100 nA cm<sup>-2</sup>) and operation restricted to low-ionic-strength conditions (<10<sup>-3</sup> M). Here, dual-function, mesh-structured core-shell Ag/AgX reversible electrodes are developed to construct high-current hydrovoltaic devices operable across diverse ionic environments. The in-situ-formed AgX shell mediates redox-driven interfacial ion-electron transduction, while the Ag core provides high-speed electronic pathways, synergistically promoting the efficient conversion of ionic migration into continuous electron flow. Leveraging the localized charge inversion effect, programmable electrical outputs in both magnitude and polarity are obtained further. By co-designing Ag/AgI electrodes with KI-based electrolytes, this device delivers a record-high current density of 26.0 µA cm<sup>-2</sup> sustained over 160 h with power density exceeding 3.9 mW m<sup>-2</sup>, ≈260-fold higher current and ≈39-fold greater power than previously reported inert-electrode-based systems. Moreover, the solid-liquid interfacial charge inversion enables tunable ion transport and reconfigurable nanochannel selectivity, realizing programmable outputs over an extensive ionic-concentration window (10<sup>-6</sup>-10<sup>0</sup> M) and multiple ionic species. This strategy implements versatile energy-sensing systems capable of powering electronics and supporting diversified self-powered monitoring across natural and industrial water sources.

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Journal
Advanced Materials
Published
2025-12-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202518509
Primary Topic
Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods
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article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Faradaic Reversible Electrodes Enable Programmable High‐Power Hydrovoltaic Energy Harvesting Across Broad Ionic Environments

Abdelhamid El‐Shaer, Teng Gao, Guilin Bai, Jiangtao Li et al.
Advanced Materials
Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods
article

Faradaic Reversible Electrodes Enable Programmable High‐Power Hydrovoltaic Energy Harvesting Across Broad Ionic Environments

Abdelhamid El‐Shaer, Teng Gao, Guilin Bai, Jiangtao Li, Beibei Shao, Baoquan Sun, Tianyu Lan
article en

Abstract

Harvesting energy from water evaporation through hydrovoltaic devices provides a sustainable approach to electricity generation and decentralized power solutions. However, practical performance remains limited by low-current outputs (<100 nA cm<sup>-2</sup>) and operation restricted to low-ionic-strength conditions (<10<sup>-3</sup> M). Here, dual-function, mesh-structured core-shell Ag/AgX reversible electrodes are developed to construct high-current hydrovoltaic devices operable across diverse ionic environments. The in-situ-formed AgX shell mediates redox-driven interfacial ion-electron transduction, while the Ag core provides high-speed electronic pathways, synergistically promoting the efficient conversion of ionic migration into continuous electron flow. Leveraging the localized charge inversion effect, programmable electrical outputs in both magnitude and polarity are obtained further. By co-designing Ag/AgI electrodes with KI-based electrolytes, this device delivers a record-high current density of 26.0 µA cm<sup>-2</sup> sustained over 160 h with power density exceeding 3.9 mW m<sup>-2</sup>, ≈260-fold higher current and ≈39-fold greater power than previously reported inert-electrode-based systems. Moreover, the solid-liquid interfacial charge inversion enables tunable ion transport and reconfigurable nanochannel selectivity, realizing programmable outputs over an extensive ionic-concentration window (10<sup>-6</sup>-10<sup>0</sup> M) and multiple ionic species. This strategy implements versatile energy-sensing systems capable of powering electronics and supporting diversified self-powered monitoring across natural and industrial water sources.

Advanced MaterialsVol. 38(9)
Macau University of Science and Technology (MO), Kafrelsheikh University (EG), Soochow University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, National Key Research and Development Program of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 72%
Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods
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