Kinetic means something relating to, or resulting from motion. We marvel each time we see kinetic energy reaching out from an athlete’s body in search of a new record. And we wonder at the possibility of using this power more effectively to charge wearable batteries. A team of researchers from Penn State’s Materials Research Institute and the University of Utah have brought this possibility closer.
Kinetic Energy Reaching Out Through Low Frequency Vibrations
Phys Org reports the wearable device could generate electricity “from the swing of an arm while walking or jogging.” Moreover, the kinetic energy reaching out this way could produce enough power for a personal health monitor.
A battery will be part of the solution since the energy will vary in intensity, and even cease when the user relaxes. “The devices we make using our optimized materials run somewhere between 5 and 50 times better than anything else that’s been reported,” says the lead researcher from Penn State Institute.
See the Kinetic Energy Reaching Out In This Video
A Glimpse Into the Technology in the Device
Some crystals produce an electrical current when we compress them. Others change shape when we apply an electric charge. This piezoelectric effect, or electricity resulting from pressure is common in ultrasound and sonar devices.
The researchers coated lead zirconate titanate (PZT) on both sides of flexible metal foil. This has been done before, but this time they made the coating five times thicker. The scientists from Penn State’s Materials Research Institute and the University of Utah believe they can double the amount of kinetic energy reaching out.
The science behind this is so complex, our lift does not even stop at the floor. We have appended a link to Wiley Online Library at the end of this post in case you would like to investigate this intriguing discovery further.
Related
Battery Charging Using Energy in Our Bodies
New Technology for Wearable Electronics
Preview Image: Cornerback Intercepts Ball
Video Share Link: https://youtu.be/oDO2BtUr4NU
