Researchers at the RMIT University in Melbourne have characterised piezoelectric thin films to turn mechanical pressure into electricity.
In what is seen as a crucial step towards the development of self-powered portable electronic devices, the research combined the potential of piezoelectronics and thin-film technology. Examples of the technology at work include integration into running shoes to charge mobile phones, or allow laptops to be powered through typing, states a report on the Physorg website.
The study focused on thin-film coatings, as researchers believe they allow for the practical possibility of integration with existing technology.
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Physorg report
Nanotechnology pushes battery life to eternity
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