Air Self-Disinfection via Hygroscopic Hydrovoltaic Effect

Qichang Hu; Xiang Shen; Xiuyu Lin; Wei Wang; Shungui Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.eng.2026.07.028

Engineering ›› :202607028 DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2026.07.028

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Air Self-Disinfection via Hygroscopic Hydrovoltaic Effect

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Abstract

Airborne pathogenic microorganisms pose a serious and growing threat to global public health and economic stability. However, conventional air disinfection technologies rely on harsh operational conditions or continuous external energy inputs, limiting their practicality and sustainability. Herein, we report the first self-powered hydrovoltaic eWall that integrates ambient moisture energy harvesting with air self-disinfection. By engineering hygroscopic interfaces with goethite (α-FeOOH) nanoparticles, the eWall continuously generates hygroelectricity (0.82 V and 120 nA) and simultaneously drives Fe(III)/Fe(II)-mediated Fenton-like reactions. These reactions convert spontaneously formed H₂O₂ into continuous hydroxyl radicals (•OH), achieving 99.99% inactivation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus within 6 h at 70% relative humidity, all without any external energy input. Mechanistic studies confirm that hygroelectricity driven •OH generation disrupts bacterial membranes, underpinning the disinfection performance. The eWall also exhibits excellent electrical stability, sustaining continuous power output for over 168 h, and its modular design enables linear scalability through customizable array configurations. By transducing ambient moisture into dual electricity and disinfection outputs without external energy, this platform establishes a new paradigm for sustainable air quality management at the interface of renewable energy harvesting and environmental health.

Keywords

Hydrovoltaic eWall / Air self-powered disinfection / Fenton-like reactions / Hydroxyl radicals / Hygroelectricity

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Qichang Hu, Xiang Shen, Xiuyu Lin, Wei Wang, Shungui Zhou. Air Self-Disinfection via Hygroscopic Hydrovoltaic Effect. Engineering 202607028 DOI:10.1016/j.eng.2026.07.028

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