Energy-harvesting rubber sheets could power pacemakers, mobile phones

January 28, 2010 | Source: Physorg.com

(Michael McAlpine/Princeton University)

Piezoelectric ceramic nanoribbons embedded onto silicone rubber sheets that harness natural body movements such as breathing and walking to power pacemakers, mobile phones and other electronic devices, have been developed by Princeton University engineers.

The devices are biocompatible, so they could also be implanted in the body to perpetually power medical devices.