Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026

A Rapidly Incremented Tethered-Swimming Maximal Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Assessment of Swimmers
Published on: January 28, 2020
Converting chemical energy into electricity through a functionally cooperating device with diving-surfacing cycles.
Mengmeng Song1, Mengjiao Cheng, Guannan Ju
1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering & Key Laboratory of Carbon Fibers and Functional Polymers, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P.R. China.
Researchers developed a smart device that dives and surfaces in water using pH-responsive materials and acid-responsive magnesium. This device converts chemical energy into electricity through its motion, demonstrating a novel energy generation method.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Smart Devices
Background:
- Developing autonomous devices for underwater applications requires innovative propulsion and energy systems.
- Harnessing chemical energy for mechanical motion and subsequent electricity generation is an area of active research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a smart device capable of autonomous diving and surfacing in an aqueous medium.
- To demonstrate the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy using the device's motion.
Main Methods:
- Integration of a pH-responsive surface with acid-responsive magnesium.
- Utilizing the magnesium's reaction to acid for controlled buoyancy changes (diving/surfacing).
- Employing the device's movement through a magnetic field to generate electrical current.
Main Results:
- Successful development of a smart device with autonomous diving and surfacing capabilities.
- Demonstration of chemical energy conversion into motional energy.
- Generation of electrical current through the device's motion by cutting magnetic flux lines.
Conclusions:
- The developed smart device effectively converts chemical energy into electricity via controlled diving and surfacing.
- Motional energy generation is achievable by consuming the chemical energy stored in magnesium.
- This technology presents a novel approach for self-powered underwater devices.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Chemiosmosis
Electron Transport Chain
The electron transport chain involves a series of protein complexes on the inner mitochondrial membrane that undergo a series of redox reactions. At the end of this chain, the electrons...
The Electron Transport Chain
Inhibitors of the electron transport chain
Rotenone, a widely used pesticide, prevents electron transfer from Fe-S cluster to ubiquinone or Q...
Electrochemical Cells
Electrochemical Systems
Voltaic/Galvanic Cells
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

