Insights into hydroelectric nanogenerators: numerical simulation and experimental verification†

The invention of hydroelectric nanogenerators (HENGs) is a breakthrough technology for green electricity generation. However, the underlying mechanisms driving energy conversion remain largely unknown, impeding the development of HENGs with high energy densities. Here, we develop a new Multiphysics model involving Darcy's law, phase transfer in porous media, and current modules to reveal the mechanisms of electricity generation in HENGs. This is the first model to simulate evaporation as a streaming potential variable with the Robin-type boundary condition that overcomes the shortcomings of Neumann- and Dirichlet-type boundary conditions. Including the streaming potential and electric double layer (EDL) effects, the simulation can be based on actual water flow conditions, which is more convincing and lays a microscopic foundation for future research and exploration into the mechanism of hydroelectric electricity generation. The new model reveals that the concentrations of salt solutions significantly impact the output power density of HENGs by affecting the solution conductivity in the stern layer, while relative humidity has a minimal impact. This model along with experimental validation offers a robust method to improve the electrical output of HENGs.