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Swiping Could Power Future Devices

by VOA News

   One day soon, your smart phone could be charged by finger swipes,
   according to new research.

   Writing in the journal Nano Energy, researchers from Michigan State
   University [1]say they have developed a film-like device "to harvest
   energy from human motion."

   The researchers say the "nanogenerator" was able to operate an LCD
   touch screen, 20 LED lights and a flexible keyboard with the device and
   without a battery.

   The film is made using a silicone wafer upon which thin layers of
   silver, polyimide and polypropylene ferroelectret are added. Ions are
   added and create energy when "the device is compressed by human
   motion."

   "What I foresee, relatively soon, is the capability of not having to
   charge your cell phone for an entire week, for example, because that
   energy will be produced by your movement,"said Nelson Sepulveda,
   associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and lead
   investigator of the project.."

   Furthermore, researchers say the device is "lightweight, flexible,
   biocompatible, scalable, low-cost and robust."

   Moreover, they add that the device becomes more powerful when it is
   folded.

   "Each time you fold it you are increasing exponentially the amount of
   voltage you are creating," Sepulveda said. "You can start with a large
   device, but when you fold it once, and again, and again, it is now much
   smaller and has more energy. Now it may be small enough to put in a
   specially made heel of your shoe so it creates power each time your
   heel strikes the ground."

References

   1. http://go.msu.edu/ZKy