Is it possible that writing on your laptop helps charge it? Scientists create a material that generates electricity when compressed.
A lead-free material generates electricity only when compressed or pressed.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York have made a significant breakthrough in the field of sustainable energy, opening the door for futuristic innovations such as self-sufficient cars, energy-generating skyscrapers, and traffic-powered streetlights. The research team developed a new eco-friendly material that harnesses the piezoelectric effect, which allows certain materials to produce electricity when subjected to pressure or vibrations.
The created polymer film contains a lead-free perovskite compound that shows promising applications in various fields, ranging from infrastructure to biomedical devices. The piezoelectric effect occurs when certain materials, which lack structural symmetry, generate electrical charges under mechanical stress. When compressing or stretching the material, positive and negative ions within it separate, generating what is known as a dipolar moment, which can be harnessed as electrical energy.
For years, scientists and engineers have sought ways to utilize this phenomenon, but many existing piezoelectric materials contain lead, limiting their sustainability. However, the new polymer film developed is lead-free, making it a more attractive option for eco-friendly energy solutions. Its main component is a lead-free perovskite compound that includes barium, zirconium, and sulfur. After synthesizing the compound, the team assessed its capacity to generate electricity from various human movements, such as walking, running, clapping, and striking.
The results showed that the material could generate enough electricity to power a group of LED lights. With a thickness of only 0.3 millimeters, this film can be easily incorporated into devices and structures without significantly altering their design. For example, it could be integrated into laptop keyboards to charge the device while typing.
Other proposed applications include its integration into shoes that charge devices while walking, or in electric car tires that generate energy for the battery while in motion. It could also be used in building structures that generate electricity by swaying in the wind or through daily use.
Nikhil Koratkar, Ph.D., the lead author of the study and a professor in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, expressed his enthusiasm for the findings and their potential to support the transition to green energy. Emphasizing the toxicity of lead and its increasing restriction in materials and devices, Koratkar highlighted the goal of creating an affordable, lead-free material using elements that are commonly found in nature. "Essentially, the material converts mechanical energy into electrical energy; the greater the pressure load applied and the larger the surface area over which the pressure is applied, the greater the effect," he added.
