A new form of sustainable energy has been harvested. Michael C. McAlpine of Princeton and colleagues have developed a promising approach for converting body movements into electricity. Certain crystals called, Piezoelectric crystals produce an electric current and when bent and have many uses. The crystals are first made in a series of narrow ribbons, on a rigid substrate of magnesium oxide. Then, after the substrate is etched away from the crystals, they are transfer-printed on a flexible biocompatible polymer, called PDMS. Dr. McAlpine said his team had started building prototypes, in which tiny wires are deposited on the crystals so that the electricity can be harvested. The crystals are also covered with another layer of PDMS to protect them, and to safeguard the body since the crystals contain lead. When put next to the body, these little gadgets can power electrical devises such as cell phones or a music player. The eventual goal would be to make a flexible power generator that could be implanted in the chest or elsewhere.
I think that this is a little bit creepy. Is it really necessary to be plugged in to an electrical outlet everywhere we go? Are we really that culturally attached to machines that we need to make them physically attached to our bodies? Link
It is a little creepy but at the same time it can come in use. It would be a good way to charge a cell phone which most people's life including my own depend on. Some people have business calls comming through on their phone all day so im sure being able to charge the phone anywhere would help.
ReplyDeleteThis is great, a wonderful alternative to those wearable solar panals for people to charge things with. it seems alternative charging is a hot topic lately, from pads you can lay your ipods and phones on to charge without plugging in to wearable generators. It would be ideal to just have the electronics recharge themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think that's awesome. That defintely shows another advancement to the future. I think it is a great invention to find that.. and also quite convenient.
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