Key Points
- Researchers created a flexible, printable skin that harvests electricity from human motion and the environment.
- It utilizes a special ink composed of a polymer and a new, ultra-thin material called MXene, thereby eliminating harsh chemicals.
- The device is efficient enough to power small electronics, such as LEDs. It can also function as a sensitive motion sensor.
- The entire gadget is manufactured using additive manufacturing (3D printing), making it scalable and easier to produce.
Researchers at Boise State University have developed a groundbreaking new material that can turn everyday motion into electricity. It’s a flexible, eco-friendly device that’s fully 3D-printed and acts like a second skin, generating power from movements such as walking or bending your knee. It can even create energy from falling raindrops.
This new gadget, a type of device called a TENG (triboelectric nanogenerator), works by generating a small electrical charge when different materials come into contact and then separate. What makes this one special is its recipe.
Published in the journal Nano Energy, the team, led by Ph.D. student Ajay Pratap, created a unique ink by mixing a common polymer with a new, super-thin material called MXene. This combination is highly efficient at generating power while avoiding the harsh chemicals and complex steps used in the production of similar devices.
The result is a durable and powerful energy harvester. In tests, the team demonstrated its ability to easily detect human activities, such as running and jumping, acting as a real-time motion sensor. More impressively, they used it to power small electronics, such as LEDs and a stopwatch, proving it can generate useful energy on the spot.
Professor David Estrada, who oversaw the project, said this work paves the way for the next generation of self-powered wearable technology. Instead of relying on batteries, future smartwatches, fitness trackers, or medical sensors could be powered simply by the person wearing them. Because the entire device is printed, it also opens the door to creating these energy-harvesting systems on a larger scale, more easily and sustainably.
