Subscribe in a reader




 Subscribe in a reader

Want to get in touch? Write to
MB-BigB@comcast.net







Blogroll

Search




« | Main | »

Generate electricity from breathing? New energy harvesting rubber could make that happen

By MB-BigB | February 2, 2010

Rubber imprinted with piezoelectric material that generates electricity when flexed. (Credit: Frank Wojciechowski/Princeton University)
OK, maybe putting this stuff next to your lungs and letting your breathing motion generate electricity is a little bit out there, but there are lots of other uses for this new power generating rubber material that’s been developed by researchers from Princeton and Caltech.   The new piezoelectric material, made of nanoribbons composed of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), generates electricity whenever pressure is applied.   While there are other piezoelectric materials in use, this new stuff is far more efficient – it’s able to convert 80 percent of the mechanical energy that’s applied to it into electrical energy.

The researchers, led by Michael McAlpine, and assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Princeton, see lots of potential uses for this material.   Rubber sheets could be put into your shoes, which would generate enough power from walking (or nervous tapping of your foot) to charge your cell phone.   Where does the breathing part fit in?  The researchers envision that ”the new electricity-harvesting devices could be implanted in the body to perpetually power medical devices, and the body wouldn’t reject them.”   For example, someone with a pacemaker could have this material implanted next to their lungs to allow the breathing motions to power the pacemaker.  That would eliminate the need for surgery to replace batteries.

Bookmark and Share

Related posts:

  1. Thermoelectrics can help your car generate electricity from its tailpipe
  2. Applied Materials completes largest US solar setup
  3. Nanocrystals can generate more than one electron from a photon of light
  4. Applied Materials Planning Largest US Corporate Solar Power Installation
  5. New solar cell nanotech research – the whole is greater than the sum of the parts

 Like this post? Subscribe in a reader







.

Topics: alternative energy | 1 Comment »




One Response to “Generate electricity from breathing? New energy harvesting rubber could make that happen”

  1. Dan Boise Says:
    February 8th, 2010 at 12:14 pm

    Wow this is impressive research stuff. Honestly, I’d use it in my shoes at work anytime to recharge my cell; and it’s a simply way to get some exercise done; always moving and tapping your foot is good for blood circulation; especially if you’re always sitting down at work.

Comments