They discover that ice generates electricity during bending

The international team of researchers, two of them Spanish, has just demonstrated that ice It has the opportunity Generate electricity When deformed. That is, it is not only useful for cooling. This is a flexible material that can also help us get electricity.

In recent years, the properties of materials have been studied piezoelectricwhich generates electricity when they are subjected to pressureThe Flexelectrecticas field is not so well known, although this was known about their existence. They have the opportunity to generate electricity when folding in a heterogeneous manner and can have many applications. Very interesting results were made about Flexolectercity. For example, this is a property that our bones naturally possess. However, it has not yet been known that ICE could also generate electricity in this way.

This is a conclusion about great relevance for two reasons. On the one hand, because it can have Technological applications Very useful. And, on the other hand, because it serves much better, like Rays in the thunders. They can be destructive, therefore, to combat them, it is important to understand how they arise.

Why is it so important that ice can generate electricity?

There are more and more scientists on Search for alternative energy sourcesThe field most of the methods used today pollutants or expensiveThe field is ideal in being able to use natural resources that are renewable and abundant, and there is something to say there. Three quarters of our planet consist of water. Of course, not everything is frozen, but There is a lot of ice In many places from glaciers to mountains. In addition, we all have cars for ice production. It is true that the ice that was used to generate electricity was at a temperature, much lower than those that we can achieve in the freezer. But, even in this case, this is still much more accessible and clean than oil.

Not everything is flexible

At temperatures about 0 ºC, such as those that we could have in the freezer of home ice, can already produce electricity with mechanics. However, these scientists went further, exposing frozen water Much lower temperaturesIn this way, they confirmed this when they reach -113 ºCHe also has a new property, known as Segnetoelectricity In the outer layer. Segletelectricity occurs when the material has two different poles, without the need for an electric field. Flexible electricity and sulfur combination Technological properties The most interesting.

And what does the rays have all this?

Clouds in which thunderstorm rays form. A lot of tiny ice crystals. Has always been theoretized that the rays should be formed The impact between these crystals. But how? If the ice were piezoelectric material, the pressure provided by some crystals on others would be enough. But this is not so.

On the other hand, when crystals affect each other, they can also cause their Mechanical folding. They can bend. Knowing that ice is a flexible material, everything makes sense.

In fact, these scientists placed an ice block between two metal plates connected to Electric potential counter. When the ice, which has suffered folds, such as those that could arise in the clouds, there was an electric potential comparable to the potential for the formation of a zipper.

Obtaining ice is very simple, so generating electricity with it can also be relatively simple. This conclusion should continue to investigate, but, of course, there is a lot of future ahead.