Nanowires Allow For Electricity-Generating Clothing

lee1 writes "The latest development in the field of 'energy harvesting', which includes such opportunistic technology such as self-winding watches, generators implanted in soldier's boots, and knee brace dynamos, is a cloth that generates electrical power. The cloth is newly developed by scientists in the US, and can produce up to 80 milliwatts per square metre. It is made from brush-like fibres composed of a Kevlar stalk surrounded by zinc oxide nanowire crystals that generate electricity through the piezoelectric effect. They can be grown on any substrate, including hair. The power harnessed from this effect could be used for anything from cosmetic components to the powering of medical devices."

Comments

How silly

[hyc]

They should just weave this stuff in with silk or wool and channel off the electricity from static buildup. Simple.

WOW!!! A great idea!!

[mlwmohawk]

If the clothing can produce power, it must transfer energy. Movement must overcome the load. Energy is not free.

This is now the basis for programmable exercise clothing, electrically adjust how hard it is to walk or run to increase load. A small computer controlled load can be applied.

It's mine, and if any of you IP mofos steal it, I'll sue!!!

Alarm Sensors

[sciop101]

This would make outstanding surface alarm matrix.

Woven into carpet, or embedded into a concrete/asphalt surface, with proper processing, this system could discriminate footsteps, vehicles, even seismic activity.