The droplet bridge, in turn, creates a closed-loop surface so that all of the collected energy can be released – the droplets act as resistors and the surface coating acts as a capacitor.
The researchers say this approach can be applied anywhere water hits a hard surface – on the hull of the boat, on the roof, or on the top of an umbrella.
“The value of this technology lies in the significantly increased electrical power per rain drop, which makes the device much more efficient at converting the energy from the falling drop into electricity,” said Sarah chemist Xiao Chen Zeng of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
However, there is still a lot of work to be done to get the technology ready for practical use, as the researchers hope to produce a prototype in the next five years.
The study was published in the journal Nature.
