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A paper-thin, flexible device created at Michigan State University not only can generate energy from human motion, it can act as a loudspeaker and microphone as well, nanotechnology researchers report in the May 16 edition of Nature Communications.
The audio breakthrough could eventually lead to such consumer products as a foldable loudspeaker, a voice-activated security patch for computers and even a talking newspaper.
"Every technology starts with a breakthrough and this is a breakthrough for this particular technology," said Nelson Sepulveda, MSU associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and primary investigator of the federally funded project.
"This is the first transducer that is ultrathin, flexible, scalable and bidirectional, meaning it can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and electrical energy to mechanical energy."
In late 2016, Sepulveda and his team successfully demonstrated their sheet-like device -- known as a ferroelectret nanogenerator, or FENG -- by using it to power a keyboard, LED lights and an LCD touch-screen. That process worked with a finger swipe or a light pressing motion to activate the devices -- converting mechanical energy to electrical energy.
The audio breakthrough could eventually lead to such consumer products as a foldable loudspeaker, a voice-activated security patch for computers and even a talking newspaper.
"Every technology starts with a breakthrough and this is a breakthrough for this particular technology," said Nelson Sepulveda, MSU associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and primary investigator of the federally funded project.
"This is the first transducer that is ultrathin, flexible, scalable and bidirectional, meaning it can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and electrical energy to mechanical energy."
In late 2016, Sepulveda and his team successfully demonstrated their sheet-like device -- known as a ferroelectret nanogenerator, or FENG -- by using it to power a keyboard, LED lights and an LCD touch-screen. That process worked with a finger swipe or a light pressing motion to activate the devices -- converting mechanical energy to electrical energy.
How scientists turned a flag into a loudspeaker
A paper-thin, flexible device not only can generate energy from human motion, it can act as a loudspeaker and microphone as well, nanotechnology researchers report.
www.sciencedaily.com
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