TECHNOLOGIES
Elementary electron extraction from devices using galvanic corrosion
Galvanic corrosion is a well-known phenomenon, which occurs when two different metals exposed to the same conditions exhibit differential corrosion rates. The corrosion process is accelerated by the exchange electrons between the metals. In this study, we created a novel layered structure of Cu and Al for efficient electron extraction through charge transfer. Using this Cu/Al laminated structure configuration and galvanic corrosion effect, an open-circuit voltage of approximately −160 mV was generated by measuring the difference in potential between the metal and a useful indicator of the electrochemical dynamics of the system. Furthermore, we effectively transmitted electrons between the metal in the layered structure, as demonstrated by the extraction of a charge of approximately 10−5 C. These results show the potential of using a laminated structure to take advantage of galvanic corrosion as energy generation and electrochemical sensing.