Human Skin will be used as charger for smartphones soon. Researchers at the National University of Singapore are working on a ‘skin-based electricity generator’ that would derive energy simply from our muscle movement. The device can generate 90 volts of open circuit voltage when touched gently with a finger and can be used as a wearable self-powered sensor to track the user’s motion and activity.
This friction-inducing phenomenon is called the triboelectric effect, in which electrical charge builds up on two dissimilar surfaces when they’re put in close contact. When they are pulled apart or flexed, a potential difference is generated and current starts flowing between them that can be collected using an electrode.
The device actually takes advantage of static electricity to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Skin is the most rich surface on a human body which have a triboelectric material and have a tendency to donate electrons.
Tapping the device, generated the highest voltage of 90V and power of 0.8mW, Dhakar says. This could light up twelve commercial LEDs.
The device is expected to create another boom for smartphones as India has one of the most users and consumers for smartphones.
