Energy harvesting via wetting/drying cycles with nanoporous electrodes

Informazioni relative al progetto

EHAWEDRY

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 964524

DOI

10.3030/964524

Progetto chiuso

Data della firma CE 21 Gennaio 2021

Data di avvio 1 Luglio 2021

Data di completamento 30 Giugno 2025

Finanziato da

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)

Costo totale

€ 2 997 615,00

Contributo UE

€ 2 997 615,00

Coordinato da

UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - EHAWEDRY (Energy harvesting via wetting/drying cycles with nanoporous electrodes)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-01-01 al 2025-06-30

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

The EHAWEDRY project addressed the major global challenge of recovering low-grade waste heat, which represents more than half of all energy losses in industrial systems and remains largely unexploited because existing technologies are expensive, bulky, and inefficient at small or distributed scales.
EHAWEDRY introduced a fundamentally new energy-harvesting concept based on self-charging electrochemical systems driven by wetting and drying cycles in nanoporous electrodes. Instead of using conventional mechanical components such as turbines, compressors, or expanders, the project developed compact electrochemical devices capable of converting thermal energy directly into electrical energy.
The overall objective of the project was to demonstrate the scientific feasibility and technological potential of this new conversion principle, establish the underlying physical mechanisms, and develop working prototypes capable of harvesting energy from low-grade waste heat. By the conclusion of the action, EHAWEDRY successfully achieved these objectives: the project validated the core scientific principles of the concept, produced functional proof-of-concept devices demonstrating self-charging energy generation, and delivered a comprehensive understanding of the governing physical processes. These results confirm the viability of the EHAWEDRY approach and provide a strong foundation for future technological development, scaling, and industrial exploitation.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

Throughout the project, EHAWEDRY combined theoretical modelling, experimental investigation, materials development, and system integration in order to establish and validate the concept of electrochemical energy harvesting driven by wetting and drying processes in nanoporous electrodes in self-charging mode.
Major scientific achievements include the development of analytical and numerical models describing self-charging behavior, ion transport, and the dependence of generated electrical current on key system parameters, including electrode geometry. A major theoretical breakthrough was achieved through the introduction of a homogeneous approximation that enabled advanced analytical modelling of self-charging processes.
The project technology is based on a newly discovered phenomenon of electricity-generation during imbibition of novel nanoporous ceramic–carbon composites,. Its understanding was significantly improved through studies of wetting transitions in individual nanochannels with well-defined geometries.
The project developed and fabricated functional nanoporous electrode systems, including porous carbon-based electrochemical cells, nanoporous ceramic–carbon composite materials, and thin multilayer sandwich structures composed of alternating layers of porous carbon nanoparticles and silica separators. In addition, multilayer capacitor architectures responsive to environmental humidity were produced, expanding the range of potential technological applications of the EHAWEDRY concept.
At the system level, EHAWEDRY successfully constructed and tested functional demonstrators. A modular demonstrator composed of five porous carbon-based electrochemical cells generated approximately 1.8 volts, which was sufficient to power a light-emitting diode, demonstrating the scalability of the concept. A larger pouch-cell prototype based on hydrophilic carbon cloth electrodes and a bipolar membrane confirmed stable self-charging performance under ambient conditions, although with lower energy density due to increased resistance and transport limitations.
Together, these results validate both the scientific foundations and the technological feasibility of the EHAWEDRY approach and establish a robust platform for continued development and future industrial exploitation.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

By the end of the action, EHAWEDRY has significantly advanced the state of the art by establishing a new scientific and technological framework for electrochemical energy harvesting based on wetting and drying processes in nanoporous electrodes. The project delivered fundamental insights into self-charging mechanisms, ion transport, and electrokinetic phenomena, extending current knowledge in nanoelectrochemistry and energy conversion.
At the conclusion of the project, the EHAWEDRY concept has been experimentally validated through functional self-charging devices and scalable demonstrators, supported by comprehensive theoretical models and nanoscale investigations. These results confirm the feasibility of converting low-grade waste heat into electrical energy using compact electrochemical systems without moving mechanical components.
The outcomes of EHAWEDRY have important implications for energy efficiency, decarbonization, and sustainable industrial development. The technology is particularly relevant for sectors where low-grade heat, airflow, and water are abundant, including food and beverage processing, textiles, pulp and paper, and the chemical and petrochemical industries. By providing a new route for waste-heat recovery, EHAWEDRY contributes directly to Europe’s long-term climate and energy objectives.
Overall, the project has created a strong scientific foundation, demonstrated technological viability, and established clear pathways for future research and industrial exploitation, positioning EHAWEDRY as a valuable long-term contribution to sustainable energy innovation.

image-for-summary.jpg