New Fiber Nanogenerators Could Lead to Electric Clothing
In research that gives literal meaning to the term "power suit,"
University of California, Berkeley, engineers have created energy-scavenging
nanofibers that could one day be woven into clothing and textiles.
Shown is a fiber nanogenerator on a plastic substrate created by UC Berkeley
scientists. The nanofibers can convert energy from mechanical stresses and into
electricity, and could one day be used to create clothing that can power small
electronics. (Chieh Chang, UC Berkeley)These nano-sized generators have "piezoelectric"
properties that allow them to convert into electricity the energy created through
mechanical stress, stretches and twists.
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