FEB 01

A new material developed by researchers at Princeton and Caltech is capable of harvesting energy from the simplest of movements like walking or breathing.  This new rubber chip made of PZT (lead zirconate titanate) nanoribbons could eventually power small portable electronic devices like cell phones.

The PZT is embedded in silicone rubber sheets that produce electricity when flexed or other pressure is applied.  The scientists who developed the chip see them being inserted into shoes or even within the body to continually harness power for our portable devices.

Before that freaks you out too much, the scientists envision the chips being placed next to the lungs to utilize breathing motions for powering pacemakers.  Pacemaker users wouldn't have to undergo surgery to replace batteries since their breathing would be a constant source of energy.

The reason this particular material stands out compared to all of the other piezoelectric materials out there is that it's far more efficient.  According to the researchers, PZT can convert 80 percent of mechanical energy applied to it into electric energy, which is 100 times more efficient than quartz.  That efficiency allows it to harness such small movements like breathing and opens up a much greater range of possibilities for its use.

via CNET

Comments (14)

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What were they thinking, Low-rated comment [Show]

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written by Dan, February 02, 2010

Hey Greg,
Here's the MSDS for NaCl, you know, salt.
"Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion[?!?], of inhalation." And I would imagine it has the environmental release warning because it's properties haven't fully been characterized. Don't be such a naysayer.

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written by sarah, February 02, 2010

like putting a nickle cadmium inside us to keep our heart going is "safer". Always, yes, take precautions, but always proceed.

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written by Chris, February 02, 2010

Wow, could this, on a larger scale, also harness mechanical energy from things like tidal movements, tectonic shifts, earthquakes et cetera?

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technology over health...
written by John for Recycling, February 02, 2010

This is a great invention but as the others I don't want to sacrifice my health as well.

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written by Marie T, February 02, 2010

I think that this product has enormous possibilities. To think that pacemaker patients wouldn't have to undergo constant surgeries to have the battery replaced shows huge strides in product improvement. Of course we aren't to that stage yet but how exciting that the possibility is even on the horizon. The currently battery life really isn't cutting it. www.sunpack.com/blog/

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written by octopod, February 02, 2010

Well, they're not going to just stick a blob of PZT in there, man! It'll be encapsulated and communicating by wire, of course.

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written by Ben R, February 03, 2010

Well at least it's a start. It may not be the safest material but every good idea has to start somewhere.

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This could change the future quite a bit
written by VeruTek Green Technologies, February 03, 2010

The technological advance we have made have been quite incredible, but this is outstanding. I can see some downsides to this type of technology such as allergic reactions, but the upside to it is quite mind boggling.

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written by Barney Sperlin, February 04, 2010

Properly encapsulated, I can see this being deformed by the wind blowing an attached weight and producing energy which would be saved to a battery. It would be interesting to see how useful a bunch of these strung up around the house could be.

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written by Brandon M, February 07, 2010

Imagine these things being put into the tires of a car. It would give electric vehicles slightly longer range since they could be used to help slowly recharge the batteries as the car is driving.

There are hundreds of applications these things can be used for, and still not come close to having any kind of contact with the general consumer's skin, or body.

Hell, put them under my keys on my keyboard and mouse. As much as I type, I could nearly power my entire computer with these things! ( yes, I'm exaggerating ).

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@Brandon M
written by Leo, February 07, 2010

Putting these into the tyres of a car would do exactly nothing for the battery life. If they were placed in a way that generated electricity, the car would have to do more work to drive the wheels at the same speed, because some of the energy being used would be going to move these things to generate electricity.

It's basic thermodynamics that you can't get out more than you put in. All the energy being put into driving a car is coming from the cars motor, and so if you regain any energy from the drivetrain, that energy is just being taken from the car itself.

Modern electric cars have regenerative braking that would work better than this at reclaiming energy due to hills or braking.

This does have a very important use as a method of converting small movements (such as those made by a person) into electricity. Theoretically a person with one of these on their lungs would have to eat more calories every day to make up for it, but because it represents a method of converting their calorie consumption into usable electricity, it's OK that there's a loss in efficiency.

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@Leo
written by fletcher, February 08, 2010

Currently a lot of the energy that goes into your car's wheels is converted into heat in the tyres, and also works to erode the tread of your tyres. That energy could easily be redirected into providing electricity to contribute to the charge in the battery without impeding the forward motion of the car. I don't think Brandon was suggesting perpetual motion, just saying that energy wastage in the system could be slightly reduced.

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piezoelectric
written by David Nicholson-Cole, February 11, 2010

If anybody has been windsurfing they know what it feels like to have a wetsuit on. It does take energy out of the body to walk, if the suit has a thick skin. The worst is Wetsuit Gloves which require so much effort to grip the boom that you would get repetetive strain injury opening and closing. But for walking, I would gladly accept a little Wetsuit-style friction if it would charge my phone or charge up my torch or radio.

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