EcoFriend Research scientists at the University of Bolton have developed a new piezoelectric-photovoltaic fiber that can be woven into various gadgets to power them using motion and light. The scientists already created a flexible piezoelectric fiber that can harness motion, but now they have added a photovoltaic fiber that would make the material a solar energy source as well.
The hybrid material can be woven into everything, including laptop and mobile phone cases, enabling the device to be charged as it is handled of placed near sunlight. The researchers state that the most immediate application will be in low-power microelectronic-driven devices such as mobiles, laptops, MP3 players and other items that require rechargeable or small batteries.
At home, a tree with needle like-fibers, could be converting sun, wind, and rain into electrical energy, which is stored ready for charging. The researchers want to work on developing the technology so that it can provide power to larger systems as well. They are ready to start producing samples of the hybrid material, and then they will thoroughly test the material's effectiveness in creating energy from movement and sunlight. They also plan to test how well it can generate electricity from wave movements under the ocean.
Via: University of Bolton [Press Release]