Using Fabric to Power Everyday Electronics

See how NUS researchers have developed an ultra-thin, self-charging fabric that is capable of generating electricity using air moisture.

"Our device shows excellent scalability at a low fabrication cost. Compared to other MEG structures and devices, our invention is simpler and easier for scaling-up integrations and connections. We believe it holds vast promise for commercialisation," said Assistant Professor Tan Swee Ching  from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Transcript

00:00:00 [Music] this could be the long-lasting eco-friendly battery of the future this more foldable battery cells are powered by moisture from the air put simply the charge comes from keeping one part of the fabric wet by absorbing mbm moisture from the air and the other part dry the difference between the wet and dry

00:00:32 parts of the fabric is what creates a current [Music] as the basis for the battery we use this simple non-woven fabric made from food pot and polyester first we soak it in carbon ink then we bake it in the oven and finally we apply a layer of hydrogel to one part of the fabric

00:01:03 a key component is this hydrogel it is based on common sea salt which likes the rest of the device is cheap and easy to produce a special property of the gel is that it absorbs up to 4.5 times its own weight in water [Music] inside this 3d printed double a battery case we have three separate layers of meg cells

00:01:35 this way the battery generates a total output of about 1.5 to 1.9 volts the same as a regular battery that is enough to power something like this alarm clock [Music] we have tested the device for several weeks and it continues to output the same charge we believe it can last as long as there is moisture in the air

00:02:04 [Music] so [Music] so [Music] with our meg battery as long as you have air you will have power to charge things like your phone if you don't have air then you really have much bigger things to worry about