Plant-Inspired Hierarchical Wood-Derived Cellulose Micro/Nanofiber Bilayer Films for Moisture Energy Harvesting

Abstract

Abstract

We report a sustainable, wood-derived moisture energy harvester (WMEH) constructed from hierarchical cellulose micro/nanofiber films derived from wood residues, integrating bioinspired design, scalable manufacturing, and circular material principles. The device couples a hygroscopic LiCl-containing cellulose hydrogel with a conductive cellulose/carbon black/citric acid evaporative layer, establishing capillary-driven moisture transport and a sustained vertical humidity gradient. The hydrogel is constructed from cellulose micro–nano fibrils produced from wood residues, yielding hierarchically confined channels, electric double layer formation and ion-selective transport, and directional cation migration, enabling continuous moisture-to-electricity conversion in an asymmetric bilayer architecture. The WMEH delivers a high open-circuit voltage of 0.85 V and a short-circuit current density up to 400 μA/cm², achieving a power density of 5.1 μW/cm² and 164.5 μW/cm³, competitive with state-of-the-art MEH. Continuous operation over 10 days is maintained by a dynamic sorption-evaporation equilibrium, with stable performance across a wide humidity (20%–80% RH) and temperature (−20 °C to 50 °C) range. Owing to intrinsic modularity, a 100-unit series and parallel assemblies deliver 74.5 V and 1.46 mA, respectively, sufficient to power commercial electronics without rectification. Beyond performance, the WMEH exhibits recyclability (about 95% voltage retention), biodegradability and substantially lower environmental impacts than representative carbon- and hydrogel-based moisture harvesters. This work highlights wood-derived cellulose micro/nanofiber films as a scalable fiber-material platform for sustainable moisture energy harvesting and decentralized power generation.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Wood / Cellulose fibers / Fibrous films / Energy harvesters / Moisture energy generator / Asymmetric moisture transport

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Funding

Canada Excellence Research Chair Program(Grant No. CERC-2018-00006)

the Canada Foundation for Innovation(Project No. 38623)

acific Economic Development Canada(PacifiCAN)

Hundred Talents Program

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China