Harvesting Electrical Energy Based on Carbon Nanotube Yarn by Flow-Induced Mechanical Energy

With the rise in research on energy harvesting, there is a growing focus on harvesters designed for practical applications and their efficiency. Current studies are investigating the use of continuous energy as a sustainable power source for energy-harvesting devices, utilizing fluid flows—such as wind, river currents, and sea waves—as key sources for continuous energy generation. A recent innovation in this field leverages the mechanical stretching and release of coiled carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns, which produce voltage through change of electrochemical double-layer capacitance. This CNT yarn–based mechanical energy harvester demonstrates adaptability across diverse fluid flow environments. Using rotational energy as its mechanical input, this harvester has been tested in both river and ocean environment. Furthermore, a detachable harvester compatible with existing rotational systems has been developed to broaden its application scope. In conclusion, this is a study on a mechanical strain-based energy harvester of carbon nanotubes applicable to environments rich in flowing electrolytes or existing rotational motions for sustainable harvesting.