Fabric generates electricity from movement

Developed by a team at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), the fabric contains a polymer that converts mechanical stress into electrical energy. It is also made with stretchable spandex as a base layer and integrated with a rubber-like material to keep it strong, flexible, and waterproof.

In a proof-of-concept experiment reported in Advanced Materials, the NTU Singapore team showed that tapping a 3cm x 4cm piece of the new fabric generated enough electrical energy to light up 100 LEDs.

According to the team, washing, folding, and crumpling the fabric did not cause any performance degradation, and it could maintain stable electrical output for up to five months.

Materials scientist and NTU Associate Provost (Graduate Education) Professor Lee Pooi See, who led the study, said: “There have been many attempts to develop fabric or garments that can harvest energy from movement, but a big challenge has been to develop something that does not degrade in function after being washed, and at the same time retains excellent electrical output.