Eco Factor: Piezoelectric devices to convert motion into electricity for pacemakers and cellphones.
Researchers at the Princeton University have developed unique power-generating rubber films that can harness natural body movements such as breathing and walking to provide electricity to charge various portable electronic and electrical devices.
The material is made by embedding silicone rubber sheets with ceramic nanoribbons. These ribbons generate electricity when flexed and are highly efficient in harvesting small movements as well. These researchers are envisioning shoes with this material that can harvest energy of walking and running into electricity to power electronic gadgets. Moreover, sheets of the same material can be placed against the lungs to power devices such as pacemakers.
Dubbed “Piezoelectric Ribbons Printed onto Rubber for Flexible Energy Conversion”, these devices make use of nanoribbons of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), which is 100 times more efficient than quartz, which enables them to produce energy from small movements.
Via: Physorg
