Scientists at Delhi's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) had developed a device that runs on a few drops of water to generated electricity, that too without using any power or chemicals.

The device named, Hydroelectric Cell, generates electricity using nothing except a few drops of water. The team used nanoporous magnesium ferrite to split water into H3O and OH ions and used silver and zinc as electrodes to make a cell

Chief Scientist at Delhi’s National Physical Laboratory Dr R. K. Kotnala and his research partner Dr Jyoti Shah of NPL have demonstrated that this panel can generate up to about a quarter ampere current at a little less than one volt.

“Our work is a big leap in the field of green electrical energy source,” says Dr. Kotnala. “Our novel renewable energy source, called ‘hydroelectric cell’, is a unique manifestation of the galvanic cell.”

The team has made a 3 sq inch of magnesium ferrite material that generates 300 mA initially, which then reduces to 250 mA. “We have also made a prototype of 4 sq inch material. So we have shown in the lab that scaling up the cell is possible,” says Dr. Jyoti Shah of NPL and a co-author of the paper.

“Anyone with a furnace that works up to 1,200 degree C can produce this material. The hydroelectric cell is portable, completely safe, does not pollute the environment and is a green energy source that can potentially replace traditional ways of generating renewable energy,” says Dr. Shah.

“The energy produced by HEC can be utilized in domestic residential applications in decentralized mode at low cost,” Dr. Kotnala adds.

One Walt of battery will cost 17 Rupees, but Dr. Kotnala and his team want to foolproof this device then only they will start its marketing.