Intelligent multiple-liquid evaporation power generation platform using distinctive Jaboticaba-like carbon nanosphere@TiO2 nanowires

Advanced intelligent electronic systems are usually integrated with a power supply, sensors and many other components, which can lead to their bulky sizes and complex structures. Here, we introduce a smart self-powered device concept that exploits a type of Jaboticaba-like carbon nanosphere@TiO2 nanowire (C@T) as a highly efficient, light-sensitive liquid (including but not limited to water, methanol, acetone, and ethanol) evaporation power generation (EPG) platform. Typically, the separate-piece EPG device could generate a flow-induced voltage (FIV) of 1.6 V under the evaporation of water, which was comparable to that of a commercial dry battery. When methanol was used, FIV was as high as 2.0 V. The FIV value of the EPG device using water could be easily scaled up to nearly 20 V and used for a stable power source in electronic devices. The photoresponse performance is an exclusive feature of EPG, which was successfully applied to a self-powered light-control switch. The significance of this work is that it not only provides a satisfactory and practical candidate for cheap and efficient evaporation power generation, but also opens up a green way for building advanced intelligent self-powered electronics.