Rubber Chip Harvests Energy from Walking, Breathing
When we were young, we learned some very common and basic science facts. We were taught about the law of gravity. Some teachers may have showed their students how to suck an egg into a bottle. We also learned that rubber does not conduct electricity.
photo by Lucretious (image source: Stock.Xchng)
As with many other scientific theories, discoveries and so forth, some things end up being disproven over time. Researchers at Princeton and Caltech developed a rubber chip capable of harvesting energy. This chip is made of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) nanoribbons and has the potential to power small, portable electronic devices, like cell phones, or perhaps mp3 players.
Energy to power the chip comes from simple human movements, such as breathing and walking. The PZT is part of silicone rubber sheets, which produce the electricity by bending or through other forms of applied pressure. Developers of the chip are hoping to see them placed within shoes or even within the body, so people can continually harness their power.
Before anyone gets freaked out about the possibility of becoming a cyborg, know that first of all, the chip insertion is completely optional. You won’t have to get one placed within you if you don’t want to. Second, the scientists simply see the chip being placed near the lungs so it can help power medical devices, such as pacemakers, by harnessing the energy from breathing motions.
One interesting thing to note about the chip is that it’s a lot more efficient than those made from other materials. PZT is capable of turning 80% of applied mechanical energy into electric energy. This makes it 100 times more efficient than quartz and thus, means there is a broader range of opportunities for its use.
By Heidi Marshall
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Tags: breathing, Caltech, electrical energy, energy harvesting, portable electronic devices, Princeton, PZT, rubber chip, walking
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