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Georgia Tech Unveils Prototype Nanogenerator
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have created a working prototype nanogenerator capable of generating as much as 4 watts per cubic centimeter of continuous direct current. The generators are green (to use), drawing power from natural motion in the surrounding environment. They are based on non-toxic chemicals and should be safe for use in biomechanical implants, but that's not their only potential use. From the article: "If you had a device like this in your shoes when you walked, you would be able to generate your own small current to power small electronics," Wang noted. "Anything that makes the nanowires move within the generator can be used for generating power. Very little force is required to move them."
Nope, Galt's engine converted atpmospheric static electricity into current, this one converts kinetic energy into current. We have always been able to convert kenetic energy into current by using it to rotate a coil in a magnetic field, this just greatly enhances the range of kenetic motion now available for conversion.
Typical espresso machines are on the order of 1-2 kilowatts. If your hands are shaking that badly there's probably more than just caffeine in your latte.
Ok, so assume your wearing gloves on your hands. And your hands are (work with me here, this is a complete guess) about 15 centimeters long by 10 wide, thats 150 cubic centimeters. However, you need your hands in there, so only about 1/8th of that is useable space, so 18.75 cubic centimeters that you could put on gloves and not have a huge problem with. According to his 4 watts per cubic centimeter, we're looking at about the power of a lightbulb (75 watts), per hand. An espresso machine is 1100 watts.
You'd need basically an entire body-suit to power an espresso machine.
.1 Richter microquakes, yes, of course. Sometimes going up to even 2 to 3 on the Richter scale- but just because pressure is building for a larger quake doesn't mean that all movement is stopped. The Mid Atlantic ridge, while useless for the above energy example, is a good example of perpetual quakes, it's litterally spreading (divergent) apart at 2.5cm/year. On second thought, that's a good example- more traditional methods of geothermal energy extraction from that specific ridge line allow Iceland to generate Geothermal energy, with one hot plant producing over 90MW of electricity, and geothermal energy being 13% of the energy production for the island.
SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
FTA: "...the generators produce a direct current output in the nano-Ampere range."
Summary could be a little more accurate, seems that in absolutely perfect conditions it could mathematically produce 4W. Who knows what the real world efficiency would be.
"...with optimization, their nanogenerator could produce as much as 4 watts per cubic centimeter - based on a calculation for a single nanowire."
Still could be a very useful device, especially if it's durable enough and can be produced cheaply enough to integrate into clothing or maybe even larger areas.
As someone who's spent over a decade with piezo materials, let me very clear: BFD. This is not a new effect, this is not higher efficiency, it's not even new to be non-toxic. They just made it small. Granted, they used the ZnO to both generate and rectify the current, so that might make it useful (as the article states) for nano devices. But for larger stuff, run of the mill piezo materials offer higher D33, Q, etc. Some simple circuitry and you're off and running. Difficult? Nope! I built the generation half of one last month because I needed a quick hydrophone (thereby converting ultrasound to current). 2 minutes from overstock originally bought from on E-bay for generating ultrasound ($13 well spent).
What you are really seeing is publish or perish in action.
The world is made by those who show up for the job.
My friend the principle of energy conservation told me that they are no more green to use than that which causes the motion in the surrounding environment (probably a little less).
Swedish plasma phys. PhD student; MSc EE; knows maths, programming, electronics; finance interest; seeks opportunities