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A New Stretchable Tool Generates Electrical Power With Tiny Magnets
Chen and his team further reported that the magnetoelastic effect they observed was four times greater than similarly sized setups with rigid metal alloys.
Science & Tech
We have often reported on piezoelectric material that can transform stress into electricity but so far these materials have had limited capabilities like the inability to produce enough energy to be viable or to function if they get a little wet. That's all about to change.
A new invention consisting of magnetoelastic generators, composed of a platinum-catalyzed silicone polymer matrix suspended inside of which are nanoscale neodymium-iron-boron magnets, has been devised that results in soft and flexible super-efficient self-powered bioelectronic devices.
The tech uses human body movements to power wearable and implantable diagnostic sensors. Better yet, it even works when wet which means rain or sweat won't deactivate it.
“Our finding opens up a new avenue for practical energy, sensing and therapeutic technologies that are human-body-centric and can be connected to the Internet of Things,” said study leader Jun Chen, an assistant professor of bioengineering at the University of California at Los Angeles' Samueli School of Engineering, in a statement.