Can you imagine being able to power your iPod or mp3 player with your clothes?
Researchers at Georgia Tech are working on creating a “power shirt” that could allow you to power an array of small electronics (including your iPod), using the science of Nanotechnology and physical movements.
According to the international journal Nature, textile fibers are covered with zinc oxide nanowires which can generate electrical current. Combining current flow from fiber pairs woven into a shirt or jacket could allow the body movements of the person wearing the clothing to provide the power. Jump, wiggle, jump comes to mind. The fibers could also be woven into curtains, tents or other structures to capture energy from wind motion, sound vibration or other mechanical energy.
Schematic illustration of fibers that would generate an electric current.
(Image: Dr. Wang, Georgia Institute of Technology)
Although this technology is still in the research stage, with today’s emphasis on “going green” it certainly seems like a positive step towards discovering environmentally friendly power sources.
Some of you may be asking, “but Diva, can you wash this nano-shirt”? Well, it looks like the researchers are still working on developing a way to protect the wires because zinc oxide isn’t so crazy about moisture.
I wonder how dryer friendly a nano-shirt would be?
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1 Comment
Wow, technology is sure blooming. That would be pretty cool to power up little gadgets wearing a shirt and walking. This is as cool as Sony with their battery that runs off of sugar. What will they come out with next?