Scientists from Łukasiewicz – Institute for Engineering of Polymer Materials and Dyes in Warsaw, Łukasiewicz – Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics in Kraków and the Faculty of Chemistry at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń have created a foil that generates electricity, e.g. while walking.
The invention of the scientists does not crumble, has good mechanical properties, shows electrical, thermal and photochemical stability, and at the same time is much cheaper to produce. The film can be produced from raw materials widely available on the market. In addition, it is light and flexible, taking practically all shapes and different sizes of surfaces.
It will allow getting energy not only from walking but also from the power of wind or water flow as well as from less obvious sources, such as vibrations of various types of devices, e.g. the movement of wheels in a car.
Dr Eng. Ewa Klimiec from Łukasiewicz – Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics, presented the way in which foil can charge an electronic device. The material placed between the electrodes under the influence of deformation, e.g. pressure, generates an electrical signal. The simplest example of using this phenomenon would be to place the foil between the electrodes printed on it and hide it in a shoe pad.
“Walking, treading the foil with connected electrodes could charge devices operating in the Bluetooth standard, as well as avalanche detectors or SOS alarms used in construction or mining”, said Ewa Klimiec.
She also stated that Polish scientists have already obtained patents for the invention. Now they are researching various applications of the film and looking for companies interested in using it.
Adrian Andrzejewski