New Fabric Turns Body Movement Into Electricity, Demonstrate Researchers

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University have developed a waterproof and stretchable fabric that converts energy generated by body movements into electrical energy.

A polymer is an essential component of the fabric that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy when pressure or squeezing is applied. The base layer of the fabric is made of stretchable spandex and is bonded to a rubber-like material to make it flexible, strong and waterproof.

A proof-of-concept experiment with the fabric, reported in Advanced Materials in April, showed that tapping 3 cm by 4 cm of the fabric generated enough electrical energy to light 100 LEDs.

The fabric showed no degradation in performance when washed, crumpled or folded and was able to maintain stable electrical output for up to five months. This demonstrated the fabric's use as a smart textile and portable energy source.

There have been attempts in the past to develop garments or fabrics that could harvest energy from movement, but it has been a challenge to prevent degradation, explained the collaborator who led the study.

Importantly, the study shows that the prototype still works well after being crumpled and washed. The fabric could be incorporated into T-shirts or integrated into shoe soles to harvest energy from the body's smallest movements and conduct electricity into mobile devices.

The electricity-generating fabric is an energy collector that converts vibrations generated by the smallest movement of the body in everyday life into electrical energy.