Emerging hydrovoltaic technology based on carbon black and porous carbon materials: A mini review

Hydrovoltaic technology has attracted intense research interest due to its capacity to directly harvest green energy from water flow/evaporation. Carbon black (CB) and porous carbon materials (PCMs) are the two common types of materials used for hydrovoltaic devices due to their cost-effectiveness and sustainable availability. In this mini-review, the principle mechanisms for hydrovoltaic conversion based on CB and PCMs were discussed, and the latest progress on the development of hydrovoltaic devices was summarized. In addition, we analyzed the main factors affecting the performance of hydrovoltaic devices, and demonstrated their potential applications in various fields including sensors, power supply, water collection and desalination. Finally, some remaining challenges were discussed, and suggestions were given for the development of this emerging technology.