biostudies-literatureCao JShun Hing Institute of Advanced EngineeringAgency for Science, Technology and ResearchNational Research Foundation SingaporeChinese University of Hong Kong26249-26258https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12291591biostudies-literatureUnknown19(28)Evaporation, a ubiquitous process driving Earth's water-energy cycle, has been largely untapped for energy harvesting. Here, we introduce "evapolectrics," a scalable strategy that directly converts evaporation enthalpy into electricity via thermoelectric generators (TEGs). By leveraging porous graphite coatings and optimizing wind speeds (2.8 m/s) and wet-bulb depression, a robust temperature gradient (Δ<i>T</i>) over 6 °C can be maintained across TEGs. This translates to a power density of 4.2 W/m², which exceeds other ambient energy harvesting technologies, such as triboelectric and hydrovoltaics. We also demonstrate the evapolectrics' ability to sustain a continuous power output of 2.72 mW over 30 min and scalability via a 7 × 7 device array. Unlike intermittent sources like ACS nanoEvapolectrics: Direct Harvesting of Electricity from Evaporation Using Thermoelectrics.PMC12291591R22I1IR0534055224RNE-p3-24U2411D4011Wu JCao JSuwardi ADong JfalseEvapolectrics: Direct Harvesting of Electricity from Evaporation Using Thermoelectrics.Evaporation, a ubiquitous process driving Earth's water-energy cycle, has been largely untapped for energy harvesting. Here, we introduce "evapolectrics," a scalable strategy that directly converts evaporation enthalpy into electricity via thermoelectric generators (TEGs). By leveraging porous graphite coatings and optimizing wind speeds (2.8 m/s) and wet-bulb depression, a robust temperature gradient (Δ<i>T</i>) over 6 °C can be maintained across TEGs. This translates to a power density of 4.2 W/m², which exceeds other ambient energy harvesting technologies, such as triboelectric and hydrovoltaics. We also demonstrate the evapolectrics' ability to sustain a continuous power output of 2.72 mW over 30 min and scalability via a 7 × 7 device array. Unlike intermittent sources like 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jul2026-03-27T17:04:26.003Z2025-08-28T03:09:11.767ZS-EPMC122915914064123010.1021/acsnano.5c10693