- Scientists have created a gel that converts heat into electricity.
- This gel will help in charging the wearable device.
- Different from traditional materials, it is soft and flexible.
- The technology will save electricity and improve the environment in the future.
New Technology: Scientists at Australia’s Queensland University of Technology have prepared a special material that can convert human body heat into electricity. It is a soft and flexible gel that can be used in wearable devices. Its purpose is that in future smart devices should be less dependent on battery.
How does this gel work?
This special gel captures the heat emitted from the body and converts it into electrical energy. Usually this heat gets lost in the environment but this new technology prevents it from going waste. When there is a difference between the body and surrounding temperatures, the ions (charged particles) present inside the gel move, which generates electricity.
Characteristics of hydrogel
This material is a kind of hydrogel, that is, it contains water and is very soft and stretchy. For this reason it is easy and comfortable to wear it on the body. This differs from traditional thermoelectric materials which are typically rigid, expensive, and difficult to make.
How much electricity can it generate?
In tests conducted in the lab, a small device made of this gel, whose size was only 10×10 mm, was successful in generating about 0.46 volts of electricity. Even though this quantity may seem small, it shows that in the future, more power can be achieved by further improving it.
Big change for wearable devices
The biggest advantage of this technology is that devices like fitness bands, health monitors or smart clothes can work without or with very little battery. This means that you will not need to charge it again and again.
not limited to just wearing
This technology is not limited to just wearable devices. It can also be used in places where a lot of heat is wasted like factories or industrial setups. This may also make it possible to save electricity and make better use of it.
New way to save electricity in future
A large amount of energy is wasted as heat around the world. In such a situation, this new discovery can be a smart way to reuse that wasted energy. Scientists believe that this technology can play an important role in energy saving and environment in future.
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