介绍:
The days of having to carry a phone charger everywhere could be over soon. Michigan researchers have revealed a major breakthrough in harvesting energy from human motion. Researchers said it could lead smart phones to be powered for a week by human motion being harvested.
Michigan State University’s low-cost device, known as a nanogenerator, has already been tested. Researchers successfully operated an LCD touch screen, a bank of 20 LED lights and a flexible keyboard, all with a simple touching or pressing motion and without the aid of a battery.
“The groundbreaking findings suggest that we are on the path towards wearable devices powered by human motion,” said Nelson Sepulveda, lead researcher of the project. “What I foresee is the capability of not having to charge your cellphone for an entire week because that energy will be produced by your movement.”
The process starts with a silicone wafer, which is then wrapped with several layers, or thin sheets of environmentally friendly materials. Ions are added so that each layer in the device contains charged particles. Electrical energy is created when the device is compressed by human motion.
The device is called FENG, and is as thin as a sheet of paper. The device was used to power the LED lights and was palm-sized, for example, but the one used to power the touch screen is as small as a finger. The device also becomes more powerful when folded. You can start with a large device, but when you fold it again and again, it will become much smaller and have more energy.
