With each passing day, scientists are coming out with unique solutions to lessen
our dependence on fossil fuels. They are now thinking of turning stray forms of
energy such as noise or random vibrations from the environment into useful form
of energy. They want to use piezoelectric effect for such purposes. Some
materials produce electricity while undergoing mechanical stress. This is known
as piezoelectric effect. Small piezoelectric crystals can come up with enough
voltage to create a spark which can be utilized to ignite gas.
Piezoelectric crystals act as igniters. They are helpful in many gas-powered
appliances like ovens, grillers, room heaters, and hot water heaters. These
piezoelectric crystals are quite tiny and can be easily fitted into lighters
too. Piezoelectric crystals are also fitted into electronic clocks and watches
for time alarm noise.
Materials scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have taken the help
of piezoelectric effect to harness random energy available in the atmosphere to
turn water into usable hydrogen fuel. It might prove a simple, efficient method
to recycle waste energy. The research team is led by Huifang Xu, who is a
UW-Madison geologist and crystal specialist. They took nanocrystals of zinc
oxide and barium titanate. These two nanocrystals were put in water. When these
crystals received ultrasonic vibrations, the nanofibers flexed and catalyzed a
chemical reaction. This whole process resulted in splitting the water molecules
into hydrogen and oxygen.
Huifang Xu along with his team has published their work in the Journal of
Physical Chemistry Letters . They wrote in the journal, “This study provides a
simple and cost-effective technology for direct water splitting that may
generate
hydrogen fuels by scavenging energy wastes such as noise or stray
vibrations from the environment. This new discovery may have potential
implications in solving the challenging energy and environmental issues that we
are facing today and in the future.”
Xu and his colleagues applied the piezoelectric effect to the nanocrystal fibers
successfully. Xu says, “The bulk materials are brittle, but at the nanoscale
they are flexible.” It is akin to the difference between fiberglass and a pane
of glass.
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