Gradient Difference-Driven Passive Environmental Energy Harvesting Battery_ Multi-Gradient Synergistic Mechanism, Theoretical Modeling and Scenario Adaptation

Abstract Environmental gradient energy (temperature, concentration, humidity, pressure gradients, etc.), as a widely existing, clean and renewable low-grade energy, its efficient recovery and conversion is a key path to break the bottleneck of traditional energy storage equipment "only storing but not generating, passive power consumption" and promote the development of low-carbon energy systems. Most existing environmental energy harvesting technologies are limited to a single gradient type, with problems such as low conversion efficiency, poor adaptability, fixed gradient selection, and imperfect theoretical systems. They lack in-depth analysis and quantitative modeling of energy conversion mechanisms, and have no solid theoretical support for technological upgrading, making it difficult to meet the self-power supply and energy-saving demands of low-power devices in multiple scenarios. Based on the principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics and energy conservation, this paper focuses on pure theoretical principle innovation at the application layer, with no experimental verification or prototype development involved throughout. It proposes a Gradient Difference-Driven Passive Environmental Energy Harvesting Battery (GDEHB), which can flexibly select gradient types according to actual application scenarios, support multi-gradient synergistic harvesting and single-gradient precise adaptation. The battery operates passively without consuming external energy, and can actively absorb idle environmental gradient energy, breaking the inherent limitations of traditional batteries in power storage and consumption. Moreover, multi-gradient synergy can greatly broaden energy sources and increase total harvesting volume; an integrated theoretical model of multi-gradient synergistic harvesting-directional energy conversion-efficient power storage is constructed, the thermodynamic mechanism, kinetic equations and quantitative potential difference model of gradient energy-to-electric energy conversion are systematically deduced, the regulation mechanism of structural parameters and gradient field parameters on conversion efficiency is clarified, the implementation priority of multi-scenario gradient combinations is refined, and the application feasibility of the battery in low-power electronic devices, smart home appliances, industrial monitoring and other fields is verified through theoretical modeling and cross-scenario adaptation analysis. The rapid development of composite electrolytes, multi-responsive small molecules and multi-functional sensitive materials provides a feasible implementation path for the multi-gradient synergistic harvesting mechanism proposed in this study. Conversely, the gradient difference-driven energy harvesting battery also provides clear application scenarios and system-level integration goals for the above advanced materials, with natural adaptability and synergistic development potential between the two. On this basis, the original Zhou's Discontinuous Stability Theory (ZDST) is innovatively integrated to build an integrated closed-loop system of "energy harvesting-energy storage-stability control", breaking through the engineering implementation shortcomings of GDEHB such as power supply fluctuation and extensive power consumption control, further improving power supply stability and equipment endurance, enhancing scenario adaptability, and achieving collaborative empowerment of applied technological innovation and underlying principle support. This paper provides a brand-new theoretical framework and technical paradigm for the efficient recovery and utilization of environmental gradient energy, enriches the theoretical system of passive energy harvesting, and is the practical implementation of the core ideology of Trait Locking Science in the energy field, with important academic value and industrialization potential. Journal Position Statement (Beijing Time 19:45, March 12, 2026) This work was previously submitted to the Chinese journal Energy Storage Science and Technology (《储能科学与技术》), which rejected it on the grounds that "a preprint has already been published". I hereby declare: I will permanently refuse to submit any future work to the Chinese journal Energy Storage Science and Technology; I do not recognize the academic validity of any citations of my work published in the Chinese journal Energy Storage Science and Technology; I will deny the academic validity of any citation of my work submitted to this journal by any individual or institution worldwide, and any inclusion or citation of my work by this journal shall have no academic credibility. Note: Another original theoretical achievement of equivalent level by the author, TFR (Thirteen-Dimensional Flavor Realm) (also published as a preprint), was formally accepted and underwent preliminary review by 《食品科学》Food Science, a Chinese core journal, but was finally rejected due to the journal’s applied technology orientation and misalignment with pure theoretical research. No objection was raised against the preprint at any stage. This fact fully demonstrates that rejecting submissions on the grounds of “prior preprint publication” is not a common industry norm, but merely a conservative choice of individual journals. It also reflects that domestic journals generally prioritize applied technical research and have relatively limited tolerance for paradigm-shifting foundational theories. Regardless of the final acceptance outcome of this paper, this comparison clearly illustrates the divergent treatment of preprints under different journal policies and corroborates the progressive advancement of open science in China’s academic publishing community. Update 1 This is my attempt to adjust to a new direction (Beijing Time 22:57, March 6, 2026) I was originally an independent researcher focused on pure theoretical construction, typically working on the most fundamental, bottom-level theoretical papers. However, such foundational theories are often too esoteric and niche, preventing my ideas from spreading effectively. Therefore, I will adjust my future direction (in addition to my main academic thread, see Update 1 under the metadata of CEC (Convergent-Explosive Communication) Theory, (doi:10.5281/zenodo.18721306) — shifting from bottom-level principle research to applied-level principle research. Yes, it remains principle-level, but with a stronger application orientation. For example, if this paper were titled something like A Bottom-Level Principle or Pure Theory Centered on Gradient Differences, I doubt many people would understand or click on it. Now, I have repositioned it as an applied-level paper, directly telling you that it is a battery — a new type of battery that passively harvests energy, senses multiple gradients, and generates energy from various gradient differences in the environment. Does that make it more interesting? In a sense, it redefines the core value of a battery: traditional batteries only store energy, but my gradient difference passive battery harvests energy solely from natural gradient differences, endowing batteries with the new function of energy capture, and reinterpreting batteries as devices that both capture and store energy. Towards the end of constructing this paper, I suddenly realized that its application scenarios, combined with the inherent characteristics of the gradient difference battery, are a natural fit with my previously developed Zhou's Discontinuous Stability Theory (ZDST)(doi:10.5281/zenodo.18760561). The two can work in synergy: one passively harvests energy, the other actively conserves it. Their deep integration will give rise to a new generation of gradient difference smart batteries, greatly extending their endurance and application scenarios. Just imagine: your refrigerator, smart home devices, and even cardiac pacemakers (with a gradient difference battery placed in a small area between the heart and chest skin, harvesting energy from temperature and pressure differences inside and outside the body, and my ZDST enabling energy-efficient and stable operation). It is truly possible for small or low-power devices to run almost entirely on their own, without battery replacement, while large or high-power batteries can also recover energy via gradient differences and reduce energy consumption pressure. What a tremendous change this would be. At the same time, I have noticed the development of composite electrolytes, multi-responsive small molecules, and multifunctional sensitive materials in the industry, but their applications should not be limited to traditional battery fields. The most suitable application scenario for these technologies is exactly the gradient difference-driven passive environmental energy harvesting battery I have constructed. The greatest characteristic of composite electrolytes + multi-responsive small molecules + multifunctional sensitive materials is their ability to sense multiple gradient differences, yet they are currently underappreciated in academia and industry due to a lack of guiding theory. My gradient difference battery will be an excellent application direction for these technologies, and the next generation of batteries will inevitably move towards composite materials, multi-responsiveness, and intelligence. So, dear reader, can you now feel my original intention behind moving towards applied-level principle construction outside my main academic thread? From the very beginning, I have hoped that my theories can spread, be popularized, and change the world. In my paper Human-Machine Game: Humanity Will Prevail, I told the academic community and the world that humanity will inevitably defeat AI within a framework, ensuring that humans will lead AI in the future and always be the masters of tools. Similarly, my communication theory tells the world that it is not channels that determine communication effects