Piezoelectric Nanowires Turn Fabric Into Power Source
Wouldn't it be great if you could rock Kanye West's outfit from the Grammys, but without the bulky battery pack? Power gadgets by plugging them into your collar? Or do as-yet-undreamed things with garments that produce their own electricity?
It could happen. In a paper published today in Nature, scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology grew zinc oxide nanowires around kevlar textile fibers. Then the researchers wove the fibers together; when the wires rubbed against each other, an electric charge built up and was channeled into a cathode output.
The fabric is the latest and most personalized form of piezoelectric power generation, in which mechanical stress is turned into electricity. Other piezoelectric garments have been proposed, but they involve polymer inserts rather than fundamentally charge-generating textiles.
The Georgia researchers say their fabric (modeled at right) could have military uses purposes in places where other types of power generation are impractical. That's no doubt true, and invoking the military is a great way to get funding -- but the civilian possibilities are endless! Just put Trevor Baylis on the case.
Microfibre–nanowire hybrid structure for energy
scavenging [Nature]
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Nothing is 'free'. I'm going to have to carry a whole lot more food to eat so I can generate free electricity by moving around...
and thus, strain the world's food supply...
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the movement is already assumed, but the added weight was not considered.
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methinks americans should be forced to produce all of their power this way... weight reduction of our population.
Wind generators woven into flags maybe?
nothing is free
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1094712//
Before I wet myself in joyful anticipation of the wonders to come I have 2 questions:
1. How much does it cost to make said fibers?
2. How much energy is expended in making said fibers?
I suppose a third question would be "How much oil is required, directly and INDIRECTLY in manufacturing said fibers.
Mr Keim, When you refer to 'Georgia Researchers' it can be misconstrued as researchers from University of Georgia.
The abbreviation usually associated with Georgia Institute of Technology is GA Tech.
EDITOR: Adam Rogers | 
so ... I could charge my ipod BY going to the gym. That has potential though washability and breatheablity are going to be critical.