From
BBC Technology News
Dr Fernando Galembeck, from the University of Campinas in Brazil, has been studying possible uses of a little-know environmental effect.
Dr Galembeck explained that when mewtal plate is left in a humid environment, it begins to build up a charge, and further test have shown that it is possible to collect and utilise the electricity produced.
Galembeck's team used a chemical 'capacitor' to measure the effects and usefulness of the charges that were built up. Currently this produces a charge one million times smaller than in current solar panels - however, the creation of these 'capactiors' is more environmentally friendly.
Unfortunately, we could be waiting some time for this experiment to become a true reality, as there has been oppostition from the American Chemical Society, disagreeing with 'the mechanism and the scale of the effect'.
