Nokia has collaborated with Queen Mary University of London to pursue a research project which enables charging of a phone with sounds we hear everyday. Nokia worked with QMUL to produce a prototype of the size of a Lumia 925, which uses key properties of zinc oxide, a material that when squashed or stretched creates a voltage by converting energy from motion into electrical energy, in the form of nanorods. The final result is generation of 5 volts of power, good enough to power a smartphone.
The nanorods can be coated onto various surfaces in different locations making the energy harvesting versatile. When this surface is squashed or stretched, the nanorods then generate a high voltage. The nanorods respond to vibration and movement created by everyday sound, such as our voices. Electrical contacts on both sides of the rods are then used to harvest the voltage to charge a phone. In order to make it possible to produce these nanogenerators at scale, the scientists found innovative ways to cut costs in the production process.
Firstly, they developed a process whereby they could spray on the nanorod chemicals – almost like nanorod graffiti – to cover a plastic sheet in a layer of zinc oxide. When put into a mixture of chemicals and heated to just 90°C, the nanorods grew all over the surface of the sheet. Secondly, gold is traditionally used as an electrical contact, but the team were able to produce a method of using cheap and cheerful aluminium foil instead. The final device is the same size as a Nokia Lumia 925 and generates five volts, which is enough to charge a phone.
The below video explains the concept used in this research,
It will be amazing if this technology can be put to commercial use. Even if it extends the battery life in stead of totally replacing conventional charging, it may have great potential!!
You can click our “Innovations & Science” Sub-category from “Tech” menu to read about more such innovations.
Via: DailyMail
