Scientists in Britain have developed a new energy-harvesting device that will make it possible for wearable devices to be made entirely of recycled waste materials and powered by human movement.

The prototype wrist device was made from discarded paper wipes and plastic cups and can transmit Morse code. Scientists at the University of Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute said they're now working to translate the technology into smart watches.

They published their findings Thursday in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

"It won't be long until we have to ask ourselves which of the items we own are not connected to the Internet. However, the current Internet-of-things (IoT) revolution highlights the simple fact that our planet doesn't have the raw resources to continue to make these devices which are in such high demand," said Bhaskar Dudem, project lead and research fellow at the university.

"Our research demonstrates that there is a path to creating sustainable technology that runs on electricity powered by us, the users of that technology."

The team said the device prototype is self-powered due to materials that become electrically charged when they come into contact with each other. The materials, called triboelectric nanogenerators, use static charge to harvest energy through movement.

Ravi Silva, director of the ATI, said the energy-harvesting technology could possibly be used in other devices in the consumer, medical and security sectors.

"The core mission of the Advanced Technology Institute is to help build a world where clean energy is available to all," Silva said. "Our energy-harvesting technology embodies this key mission, and we stand ready to work with industry to ensure this technology reaches its full potential."

Related Links
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Metasurface-based antenna turns ambient radio waves into electric power
Tampa FL (SPX) Mar 01, 2022
Researchers have developed a new metasurface-based antenna that represents an important step toward making it practical to harvest energy from radio waves, such as the ones used in cell phone networks or Bluetooth connections. This technology could potentially provide wireless power to sensors, LEDs and other simple devices with low energy requirements. "By eliminating wired connections and batteries, these antennas could help reduce costs, improve reliability and make some electrical systems more ... read more