Electric sea creature sparks China’s nanogenerator innovation

Chinese researchers say their tiny device can generate 3,000 volts by copying the way a ray uses electricity as a weapon without harming itself. Lead researcher Song Qunliang said the design is simple and robust enough to be assembled at home with a pair of scissors. — SCMP

Chinese scientists say they have designed the most powerful droplet-based nanogenerator so far, with an output of 3,000 volts.

A single discharge of the tiny device – inspired by the electric ray fish – can light up more than 1,260 LED bulbs, each rated above three volts, said the team, in a paper published by the peer-reviewed journal Energy & Environmental Science.