A moisture-enabled fully printable power source inspired by electric eels
Lu Yang, Feiyao Yang, Xu Liu, Ke Li, Yaning Zhou, Yangjian Wang, Tianhao Yu, Mengjuan Zhong, Xiaobing Xu, Lijuan Zhang, Wei Shen, Di Wei
Abstract
Significance Future wearable and printable electronics call for scalable production of power sources that can provide green electric energy. The chemical potential energy of the ion gradient is ubiquitous in nature and is the foundation of many living species. Herein, inspired by electric eels, a new power source printed from graphene inks can convert the chemical potential energy of the ion gradient to electric output in the presence of moisture. An ultrahigh voltage of 192 V is achieved on a strip of paper substrate. Two- and three-dimensional cell structures are designed by adapting the mathematical fractal curves and a origami-folding strategy. The industrial-scale production of graphene materials coupled with the reproducibility of printing technology could open new scenarios of cost-effective graphene electronic devices.