A Nanyang Technical University (NTU) Singapore team has developed a stretchable and waterproof ‘fabric’ that turns energy generated from body movements into electrical energy. A crucial component in the fabric is a polymer that, when pressed or squeezed, converts mechanical stress into electrical energy. Washing, folding and crumpling does not degrade its performance.It is made with stretchable spandex as a base layer and integrated with a rubber-like material to keep it strong, flexible and waterproof, a university press release said.
In a proof-of-concept experiment reported in the scientific journal ‘Advanced Materials’ in April, the NTU Singapore team showed that tapping on a 3cm-by-4cm piece of the new fabric generated enough electrical energy to light up 100 LEDs.
A Nanyang Technical University Singapore team has developed a stretchable, waterproof fabric that turns energy generated from body movements into electrical energy. A crucial component in the fabric is a polymer that, when pressed or squeezed, converts mechanical stress into electrical energy. Washing, folding and crumpling does not degrade its performance.#
The fabric could maintain stable electrical output for up to five months.
The scientists envision that their prototype could be woven into T-shirts or integrated into soles of shoes to collect energy from the body’s smallest movements, piping electricity to mobile devices.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)