Battery & Electrification Technology

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E-Clothing Material Generates Energy from the Slightest Human Motion

A new device developed at Vanderbilt University generates small amounts of electricity when it is bent or pressed even at the extremely low frequencies characteristic of human motion. The ultrathin energy harvesting system is based on battery technology and made from layers of black phosphorus that are only a few atoms thick. The next step is to integrate the technology into fabrics. The atomically thin materials can be woven into fiber textiles, extracting energy from a wearer's movements that could then be used to power one's personal devices. "In the future, I expect that we will all become charging depots for our personal devices by pulling energy directly from our motions and the environment," said Cary Pint, who directed the research.To learn more, read a Tech Briefs Q&A with Cary Pint.