Energy News  
Self-powered devices may soon be possible

File image.
by Staff Writers
College Station, Texas (UPI) Dec 2, 2008
U.S. researchers say they are utilizing materials known as piezoelectrics to move science closer to self-powering devices, such as cellular telephones.

Texas A&M Professor Tahir Cagin and his team say they've made a significant discovery in the area of power harvesting -- a field that aims to develop self-powered devices that do not require replaceable power supplies, such as batteries.

Specifically, Cagin and colleagues at the University of Houston discovered a certain type of piezoelectric material can covert energy at a 100 percent increase when manufactured at a very small size -- about 21 nanometers in thickness. And when constructed bigger or smaller than 21 nanometers, they show a significant decrease in energy-converting capacity.

"When materials are brought down to the nanoscale dimension, their properties for some performance characteristics dramatically change," said Cagin. "One such example is with piezoelectric materials. We have demonstrated that when you go to a particular length scale -- between 20 and 23 nanometers -- you actually improve the energy-harvesting capacity by 100 percent.

"We're studying basic laws of nature such as physics and we're trying to apply that in terms of developing … better performing engineering materials," he added.

The research appeared recently in the journal Physical Review B.

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Fish Technology Draws Renewable Energy From Slow Water Currents
by Staff Writers
Ann Arbor MI (SPX) Nov 27, 2008 Slow-moving ocean and river currents could be a new, reliable and affordable alternative energy source. A University of Michigan engineer has made a machine that works like a fish to turn potentially destructive vibrations in fluid flows into clean, renewable power.







  • KEMA Advances Understanding Of Energy Storage Technologies
  • Self-powered devices may soon be possible
  • Wind Turbines Generate More Green Jobs In Ontario
  • New CNG Fueling Station To Support Growing Municipal Fleets

  • EDF reveals 4.5-bln-dlr counter-bid for half of Constellation nuclear
  • Westinghouse To Pursue Nuclear Power Market In India
  • Poland aims for nuclear power plant by 2020: PM
  • Iran proposes joint nuclear plants with Gulf states

  • Asia not responsible for 'brown haze': India
  • NRL's SHIMMER Observes Earth's Highest Clouds
  • Brown clouds of pollution a huge threat to Asia: UN
  • Global Methane Levels On The Rise Again

  • Brazil plans to cut deforestation by 70 pct over 10 years
  • Amazon deforestation up almost 4.0 percent
  • China sews forests from tree-starved areas
  • Frontier Forest Science For Carbon Solutions

  • Trust in Chinese food exports drops over milk scandal: state media
  • Global warming could harm Pacific food security: UN
  • IAEA calls for renewed interest in mutant plant breeding
  • China says 294,000 children fell ill from tainted milk

  • German automakers denounce EU compromise on CO2 emissions
  • EU nations agree on car emission cuts
  • Sanyo to launch new electric hybrid bicycle
  • London road pricing zone to be reduced

  • NASA studies pilot cognition
  • China postpones talks with Airbus: spokesman
  • Two China airlines to get govt aid: state media
  • China's air show saw four bln dollars in deals: report



  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement