A Robust Lignin-Derived Moisture-Enabled Electric Generator with Sustained and Scalable Power Output

Leveraging ubiquitous moisture and abundant biomass in nature to convert chemical energy into electrical energy holds great promise for meeting energy demands. Herein, we report a simple, green, low-cost, and high-performance lignin-derived moisture-enabled electric generator (LMEG). An LMEG device with an area of 0.25 cm2 can give a stable open-circuit voltage of 1.26 V, a high short-circuit current density of 439.36 μA cm-2, and a maximum power density of up to 32.73 μW cm-2. Moreover, the LMEG exhibits continuous electrical output for at least 2 months, demonstrates high tolerance to a wide range of working environments and mechanical deformations, and is recyclable. Besides, a near-linear increase in electric production can be achieved by integrating LMEG devices in series or parallel, significantly with a current of 1.45 mA obtained by connecting only 18 LMEG units in parallel. The integrated LMEG can successfully drive various electronic products, including LED arrays, electronic watches, and hygrometers, highlighting its potential in self-powered systems and sensing applications.