US 12,451,821 B2
Electric power generation from ambient humidity using protein nanowires
Jun Yao, Boston, MA (US); Derek Lovley, Amherst, MA (US); and Xiaomeng Liu, Boston, MA (US)
Assigned to University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA (US)
Appl. No. 17/280,555
Filed by University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 30, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/053882
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 26, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/069523, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/835,023, filed on Apr. 17, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/738,320, filed on Sep. 28, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0344286 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. B82Y 5/00 (2011.01); C07K 14/195 (2006.01); C12N 1/20 (2006.01); H01B 1/12 (2006.01); H02N 1/08 (2006.01)
CPC H02N 1/08 (2013.01) 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric power generation system comprising:
an electric power generation device including
a thin film or biofilm, the thin film or biofilm comprising protein nanowires and having an opposing first surface and second surface,
a first electrode electrically connected to the first surface of the thin film or biofilm, and
a second electrode electrically connected to the second surface of the thin film or biofilm; and
an ambient environment comprising an atmospheric relative humidity of at least 20%;
wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the thin film or biofilm is at least partially exposed to the ambient environment;
wherein a moisture gradient is created and maintained in the thin film or biofilm;
wherein the thin film or biofilm has a thickness in a range of 0.5 μm-20 μm; and
wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode has an area that is smaller than an area of the thin film or biofilm.