{"id":370476,"date":"2022-04-27T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationorigins.com\/?post_type=selected&p=370476"},"modified":"2022-04-27T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T10:00:00","slug":"tiny-devices-pave-way-for-self-charging-tech","status":"publish","type":"selected","link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/selected\/tiny-devices-pave-way-for-self-charging-tech\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiny devices pave way for self charging tech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Self-charging smartwatches and health trackers could be a step closer following the development of tiny mechanical devices powered by movement, writes the University of Edinburgh in a press release<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new mechanisms \u2013 which are twice as powerful as similar existing devices \u2013 could offer an energy-efficient and sustainable alternative to batteries used in wearable technologies, researchers say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edinburgh engineers have developed a technique to create versatile materials that generate electricity by harnessing energy produced by movement of the human body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The method \u2013 devised by a team of three PhD students \u2013 creates so-called piezoelectric materials more quickly and efficiently than previous techniques, potentially making it easier to scale up production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Powerful devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The team devised this new approach by tweaking the chemistry used in the production of ultrafine fibers of a material called PVDF, a versatile substance that generates electricity when pressure is applied to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By using a high-voltage power supply the researchers can make 3D sponge-like materials from the fibres, which are then cut into 1cm2<\/sup> pieces, fitted with electrodes and wires, and encased in silicon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tests of the devices\u2019 power output show they can produce 40 microwatts of electricity per square centimetre \u2013 twice as much as the most powerful type of existing piezoelectric generator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reduced waste<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Further development of the structures could extend the life of \u2013 or even replace \u2013 conventional batteries in wearable technologies, helping to reduce electronic waste and energy consumption, researchers say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The materials could also have applications in the next generation of smart textiles and be woven into products such as motion-sensing clothes and t-shirts that monitor breathing and heart rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PhD student Francisco Diaz Sanchez: “With ever-growing interest in the development of electronic wearable devices and implants, the generation of electronic waste and the limitations associated with battery capacity remain some of the key challenges to overcome. The materials we have developed bring us one step closer to the sustainable development of wearable electronics.”<\/p>\n\n\n

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Start-up of the day: smart technology for more energy efficiency<\/div>
In Spain, a start-up founded by passionate professionals aims to contribute to sustainable growth and energy renewal. <\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2084,"featured_media":510829,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":""},"categories":[8553],"tags":[127491,79239,127493,127495,56638],"location":[55977],"internal_archives":[],"class_list":["post-370476","selected","type-selected","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital","tag-electronic-waste-2","tag-electronics","tag-self-charging","tag-smart-devices","tag-university-of-edinburgh","location-united-kingdom"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"featured_img":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Captura-de-pantalla-2019-06-22-a-las-8.19.11.jpg","coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/author\/mauro-mereu\/","display_name":"Mauro Mereu"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 4 years ago","modified":"Updated 4 years ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on April 27, 2022","modified":"Updated on April 27, 2022"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on April 27, 2022 12:00 pm","modified":"Updated on April 27, 2022 12:00 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","tax_additional":{"category":{"linked":["Digital<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Digital<\/span>"],"slug":"category","name":"Categories"},"post_tag":{"linked":["electronic waste<\/a>","electronics<\/a>","self charging<\/a>","smart devices<\/a>","University of Edinburgh<\/a>"],"unlinked":["electronic waste<\/span>","electronics<\/span>","self charging<\/span>","smart devices<\/span>","University of Edinburgh<\/span>"],"slug":"post_tag","name":"Tags"},"language":{"linked":["EN<\/a>"],"unlinked":["EN<\/span>"],"slug":"language","name":"Tags"},"post_translations":{"linked":[],"unlinked":[],"slug":"post_translations","name":""},"location":{"linked":["United Kingdom<\/a>"],"unlinked":["United Kingdom<\/span>"],"slug":"location","name":"Locations"},"internal_archives":{"linked":[],"unlinked":[],"slug":"internal_archives","name":"Internal Archives"}},"series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/selected\/370476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/selected"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/selected"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2084"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/510829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=370476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=370476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=370476"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=370476"},{"taxonomy":"internal_archives","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal_archives?post=370476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}