Rubber sheets harness body movement to power electrical devices
The top image shows the process piezoelectric nanoribbons are peeled off a host substrate and placed onto rubber. The middle image is a photograph of the piezo-rubber chip. The bottom image is a schematic of the energy harvesting circuit, which generates power when it's bent (Image credit: Michael McAlpine/Princeton University)
Article Summary
Engineers from Princeton University have developed power-generating rubber films that could be used to harness natural body movements such as breathing or walking in order to power electronic devices such as pacemakers or mobile phones. The material, which is composed of ceramic nanoribbons embedded onto silicone rubber sheets, generates electricity when flexed and is highly efficient at converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
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