Advanced Design of High-Performance Moist-Electric Generators

In recent years, a rapidly growing demand is witnessed for energy-conversion technologies. The moisture-electric generators (MEGs) which can generate electricity without need of mechanical, thermal, or solar energy input have great potential in meeting the demand. Compared with carbon materials, hydrogels and other materials like vitrimers have been rapidly developed for MEGs over the last two years, leading to significant breakthrough in MEG's performance such as much wider working range of humidity, remarkably higher output, and longer duration. Designs of MEGs have also been advanced with elaborated consideration of active material and device structures. Though some reviews present the recent development from their unique aspects, reviews in the view of advanced design for MEGs are few. Here, the newest development is systematically reviewed in the field of MEG devices, reflecting advanced design for moist-induced power generating systems. First, background and mechanisms are briefed, and then most important considerations for active material design are illustrated together with solutions to the shortcomings of materials. Next, strategies are summarized to obtain MEG devices with high output performance by taking the whole power generating process into consideration, after which, the design thought for future MEGs is proposed. Finally, some perspectives are put forward.