New device could charge your gadgets with body movements

Searching for a power outlet to charge your devices may soon become a thing of the past, as scientists have developed a small metallic tab that can generate electricity from simple body movements.
“No one likes being tethered to a power outlet or lugging around a portable charger. The human body is an abundant source of energy. We thought – why not harness it to produce our own power?” said Qiaoqiang Gan, associate professor at University at Buffalo in the US.

Triboelectric charging occurs when certain materials become electrically charged after coming into contact with a different material. Most everyday static electricity is triboelectric. Researchers have proposed numerous nanogenerators that utilise the triboelectric effect; however, most are difficult to manufacture (requiring complex lithography) or are not cost effective. The tab – a triboelectric nanogenerator – that researchers including those from Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) are developing addresses both of those concerns.

It consists of two thin layers of gold, with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) – a silicon-based polymer used in contact lenses – sandwiched in between. Key to the device is that one layer of gold is stretched, causing it to crumple upon release and create what looks like a miniature mountain range. When …read more