Device Can Generate Electricity from Falling Snow

UCLA scientists developed small, thin, and flexible device like a sheet of plastic that can generate electricity from snowfall.

The researchers call it a snow-based triboelectric nanogenerator, or snow TENG. A triboelectric nanogenerator, which generates charge through static electricity, produces energy from the exchange of electrons.

Static electricity occurs from the interaction of one material that captures electrons and another that gives up electrons. You separate the charges and create electricity out of essentially nothing. ~ Richard Kaner, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and of materials science and engineering at UCLA

Snow is positively charged and gives up electrons. Silicone – a synthetic rubber-like material that is composed of silicon atoms and oxygen atoms, combined with carbon, hydrogen and other elements – is negatively charged. When falling snow contacts the surface of silicone, that produces a charge that the device captures, creating electricity.

The research team used 3D-printing to design the device, which can also send signals, indicating whether a person is moving.

Source

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