In research published on the 20th of October, 2003, in the Institute of Physics journal, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, Kwok, Kostiuk and their collaborators describe a method of generating electrical power from the natural electrokinetic properties of fluids forced through microchannels.
The electricity is generated by separating electrical charges in the fluid at a solid-fluid interface. When the solid is in contact with the fluid, some of the atoms in the solid disassociate - forming negative, free, electrons and positive ions. Depending on the type of solid, one or the other of these will flow off into the fluid, leaving the solid with a net charge. Ideally the solid is not a conductor, so this charge is localized at the solid-fluid interface rather than being diluted through out the solid. This charge then attracts oppositely charged ions and repels similarly charged ions in the fluid. This forms a thin layer (known as the Electric Double Layer or EDL) in the fluid (between nanometers and micrometers in thickness) that is charged. When the attracted ions approach the surface, they can accept or donate charge to neutralize the surface but an equilibrium is quickly reached between the disassociation that creates the charge and the charge nullification effects of the ions.
By making fluid flow through narrow channels with a diameter similar to the EDL, the attracted type of ion will be able to flow through the EDL filled channel with ease, while the other sign is largely rejected. In the figure, you can see a positive solid creating a negatively charged EDL in the channel. Neutral water can flow through this layer, and when a negatively charged ion enters from the left, the mutual repulsion between the ions pushes one out from the right hand end, but when a positive ion flows towards the channel, the positive solid prevents it from entering the channel as this repulsion overwhelms the attraction due tot he negative ions in the EDL.
This flow leads to a separation of charges on either side of the channel, which creates a voltage between the two ends. If an object, like a cell phone, is connected between the two ends, a current will flow that can be used to power the device. Although the power generated from a single channel is extremely small, millions of parallel channels can be used in a small volume to increase the power output to useful levels.
Speaking to the IOP press office, Professor Kostiuk said: "This discovery has a huge number of possible applications. It's possible that it could be a new alternative energy source to rival wind and solar power, but this would need huge bodies of water to work on a commercial scale. Hydrocarbon fuels are still the best source of energy but they're fast running out and so new options like this one could be vital in the future.
"The applications in electronics and microelectronic devices are very exciting. This technology could provide a new power source for devices such as mobile phones or calculators which could be charged up by pumping water to high pressure. What we have achieved so far is to show that electrical power can be directly generated from flowing liquids in microchannels".
It is possible to make a (relatively) simple device that works similarly to this at home or in the class room - the Kelvin Water Dropper which uses electrical repulsion to separate charge in a very similar manner.