Overview

• IIT Indore’s SEEM Lab announced a prototype that produces electricity without sunlight, batteries, or moving parts by harnessing water evaporation.
• The device centers on a graphene oxide membrane stabilized with zinc‑imidazole that creates a voltage as ions separate during capillary-driven evaporation.
• A single 3 × 2 cm membrane reportedly yields up to 0.75 volts, with output scalable by combining multiple membranes.
• Researchers say it operates with clean, saline, or muddy water, maintains performance for months, and works indoors or at night where solar is impractical.
• The team plans cost reductions using clay-based compounds and common minerals, with envisioned uses in sensors, emergency lighting, and wearables, while independent validation and commercialization remain ahead.