Hydroelectricity is an emerging novel electricity generation phenomenon that the hydrogen bond energy is converted into chemical potential energy as electric power source by absorbing moisture. Here we report a high-performance water vapour energy harvester based on flexible MoS₂ nanosheets with a phase gradient from 1T to 2H. The phase-engineered MoS₂ film could provide open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current output of 19 mV and 6.24 µA with a low internal resistance of 3 kΩ. Additionally, the underlying mechanism of electricity generation from phase-engineered MoS₂ films was proposed in terms of contrast experiments and the plane wave density functional theory (DFT). Because of the advantages like flexible, safe, light weight and ease of scale production, this novel hydrovoltaic device could be designed as self-powered human-breathing monitor that can be integrated in disposable masks. The output voltage can be further enhanced to power commercial electronic devices by the serial connections of phase-engineered MoS₂ sponges.

水电是一种新兴的新型发电现象，其氢键能通过吸收水分转化为化学势能作为电源。在这里，我们报告了一种基于柔性MoS ₂纳米片的高性能水蒸气能量收集器，其相位梯度从1T到2H。经过相位工程处理的MoS ₂薄膜可提供19 mV和6.24 µA的开路电压和短路电流输出，且内部电阻仅为3kΩ。此外，相工程MoS ₂发电的基本机制根据对比实验和平面波密度泛函理论（DFT）提出了薄膜。由于具有诸如柔性，安全，轻便和易于规模生产的优点，这种新颖的水力发电设备可以设计为可集成在一次性口罩中的自供电式人体呼吸监测器。通过相工程化的MoS ₂海绵的串联连接，可以进一步提高输出电压，从而为商用电子设备供电。