Tesla speculated electricity from thin air was possible – now the question is whether it will be possible to harness it on the scale needed to power our homes
The result is a thin grey disc measuring 4cm (1.5in) across. According to the Lyubchyks, one of these devices can generate a relatively modest 1.5 volts and 10 milliamps.
This is the available prototype, the researchers are now moving to see how well it can scale (stacking 1k to 10k of these together to power a house).
But even as it is, this already has potential applications. It can power very small fans and lights. You can charge a capacitor and use it as an electric firestarter in a survival situation.
This would be most effective where solar energy would be less effective, in muggy, humid areas with frequent rains.
This is the available prototype, the researchers are now moving to see how well it can scale (stacking 1k to 10k of these together to power a house).
But even as it is, this already has potential applications. It can power very small fans and lights. You can charge a capacitor and use it as an electric firestarter in a survival situation.
This would be most effective where solar energy would be less effective, in muggy, humid areas with frequent rains.