MULTI2MEG: Multimodal hierarchically porous moisture energy generators for synergistic multisource energy harvesters

Now, more than ever, every drop of energy counts, not only in addressing the climate crisis but also in providing on-site energy to power smart devices and reduce our dependence on batteries. However, one of the most significant renewable and distributed energy sources, specifically the energy stored in low-frequency water movements, adsorption, and evaporation, remains largely untapped. Harnessing these ubiquitous environmental resources could fundamentally transform how next-generation smart devices, sensors, and edge artificial intelligence systems are powered. Recent advances in Moisture Energy Generators (MEGs) have demonstrated the possibility of directly converting moisture-induced physicochemical gradients into electricity. However, MEGs remain far from practical deployment due to critical scientific and technological bottlenecks, including limited power density, insufficient material durability, inadequate control of wetting and transport phenomena, and the absence of scalable architectures capable of integrating multiple environmental energy sources. MULTI2MEG will address these challenges through a radically interdisciplinary approach that combines advanced nanomaterials, thin-film technologies, microdevice engineering, and multiscale energy-harvesting concepts. The project aims to establish a new generation of multifunctional MEGs capable of synergistically operating with low-light photovoltaic cells and triboelectric nanogenerators, enabling continuous multisource energy harvesting under highly variable environmental conditions. Beyond simple energy conversion, we will pioneer novel photo-activated and tribo-activated rechargeability pathways, opening unexplored routes toward self-sustaining energy systems. The project will develop conformal, hierarchically porous nanomaterials with tailored wettability, engineer advanced micro- and nanoarchitectures using innovative vacuum- and plasma-enabled fabrication methods, and integrate microscale electrodes to create compact, scalable, high-performance energy-harvesting devices. Through state-of-the-art in situ characterization and predictive multiscale modeling, we will uncover the fundamental mechanisms governing moisture-driven electricity generation, establishing a unified scientific framework for MEGs and unlocking unprecedented improvements in output power and operational stability. Two key transversal outcomes of MULTI2MEG will be the creation of the first comprehensive platform for characterization, benchmarking, and standardization of multisource environmental energy harvesters under realistic operating conditions, and the design of a modular, reconfigurable power-management unit to efficiently interface diverse harvesting mechanisms and accommodate a wide range of device footprints and power profiles. The resulting technologies will enable a new class of autonomous systems, including self-powered sensors, intelligent Internet of Everything (IoE) devices, wearable and distributed electronics, and adaptive multisource energy harvesters. We will provide two proof-of-concept devices: one demonstrating improved battery independence for localizing persons and assets in Industry 4.0 and emergency scenarios, and a self-powered sensor to feed edge-IA indoor and outdoor systems. By bringing together nine leading academic institutions and two SMEs, MULTI2MEG will establish a new European research ecosystem at the intersection of advanced functional materials, moisture-based energy harvesting, triboelectricity, low-light photovoltaics, and IoA powering.