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Polymer Film Could Power Microelectronic Devices

MIT engineers have created a new polymer film that can generate electricity by drawing on a ubiquitous source - water vapor. The new material changes its shape after absorbing tiny amounts of evaporated water, allowing it to repeatedly curl up and down. Harnessing this continuous motion could drive robotic limbs or generate enough electricity to power micro- and nanoelectronic devices, such as environmental sensors. The new film is made from an interlocking network of two different polymers. One of the polymers, polypyrrole, forms a hard but flexible matrix that provides structural support. The other polymer, polyol-borate, is a soft gel that swells when it absorbs water. The polymer film could be used in artificial muscle and to power micro- and nanoelectronic devices.