Salty Ice Generates Electricity When Bent, New Research Reveals
Researchers have discovered that bending or applying pressure to salty ice creates an electric current, opening potential avenues for clean energy solutions in frigid environments. The finding, detailed in recent experiments, demonstrates a previously unknown property of ice and saltwater mixtures, possibly paving the way for powering sensors and devices in remote, cold regions.
The phenomenon occurs because a pressure gradient is created when salty liquid within the ice is forced to flow to areas of lower pressure. This movement transports positively charged particles, generating an electric current. While the current produced by a room-sized block of salty ice is currently insufficient to charge a mobile phone, scientists believe efficiency can be significantly improved with further research.
“According to experimental physicist Xin Wen, who led the investigation, a salty ice block the size of a room would barely reach to load a mobile nowadays,” highlighting the current limitations of the technology.
However, the potential applications are promising. Researchers envision this energy source being utilized for low-consumption sensors and devices operating in extremely cold areas like the Arctic or antarctica, offering a clean, pollution-free option to customary power sources.
The discovery underscores the potential for common materials to possess remarkable properties, and could represent a step toward novel renewable energy technologies.
