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SALT LAKE CITY — Solar panels and wind turbines do their part to convert energy to electricity, but what would happen if you could wear an alternative power source?
What would happen if you could wear an alternative power source that wouldn't make you look ridiculous?
Researchers at Wake Forest University have created a way to do just that: a fabric that is capable of converting body heat into an electric charge. The material, called Power Felt, is comprised of carbon nanotubes in plastic fibers made to look like fabric.
Power Felt uses temperature differences — such as between body and room temperatures — to create a charge.
"We waste a lot of energy in the form of heat. For example, recapturing a car's energy waste could help improve fuel mileage and power the radio, air conditioning or navigation system," said Corey Hewitt, a graduate student at the university. "Generally thermoelectrics are an underdeveloped technology for harvesting energy, yet there is so much opportunity."
The material is not yet ready for market, but has energy- saving potential in a variety of areas. It could be used to line vehicle seats to boost battery power or fill other electrical needs, according to researchers. Insulating pipes or rooms with the material could lead to savings on gas and power bills.
Literally, just by sitting on your phone, Power Felt could provide relief during power outages or accidents.
–David Carroll
In an emergency, the fabric could light a flashlight. When used as a clothing liner, it could power performance- monitoring devices or an iPod. And much to the gratification of smartphone owners used to seeing their battery drain by midday, it could even charge a cellphone.
"Literally, just by sitting on your phone, Power Felt could provide relief during power outages or accidents," said David Carroll, director of Wake Forest's Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials.
Researchers said the cost of the technology is what currently prohibits it from being mass-produced. They believe the fabric will eventually cost as little as $1 to add to a cellphone cover, though, and are in talks with investors to bring the product to market. And as the cost of the technology decreases, its potential will do the opposite.
"I imagine being able to make a jacket with a completely thermoelectric inside liner that gathers warmth from body heat, while the exterior remains cold from the outside temperature," Hewitt said. "If the Power Felt is efficient enough, you could potentially power an iPod, which would be great for distance runners. It's pretty cool to think about, and it's definitely within reach."
