Transparent Paper Produces Power With Just a Touch

ckwu writes: A new transparent-paper device can generate electrical power from a user's touch. The paper energy-harvester could be used to make disposable, self-powered touch screens that fold; interactive light-up books; touch-sensitive skin for prosthetics; and security systems for art and documents, according to the researchers. The device is made out of nanopaper, a tangled mat made of nanometers-wide cellulose fibers that is transparent and smooth like plastic. The researchers deposit carbon nanotubes on the nanopaper to make a pair of electrodes, and then sandwich a polyethylene film in between. The generator works via electrostatic induction. Pressing one side of the device causes a change in the charge balance between the nanotube electrodes, resulting in a flow of current through the device. Releasing the pressure causes electrons to flow back, so repeated pressing and releasing creates continuous current. The researchers demonstrated that the generator could produce enough power when pressed to light up a small liquid-crystal display.

Comments

Re:Too good to be true

[weilawei]

first actual demonstratable/sellable working vapour-ware product in history

Kids these days. Did we already forget steam engines?

This is how we power it...

[Grog6]

Neon Condoms, Neon fleshlights, Neon Dildos... all will be very popular, I'm sure. :)

If we pave the streets with it, how much power can we get?

Paper

[GrahamJ]

Neat, but why call it paper? No part of this is paper.

Re: Power from vibrating elements....

[CanHasDIY]

That 'miracle' is a Peltier Device.

They are pretty cool, but short of miraculous.