Jason Ford

Piezo device harvests energy from sound

News

Researchers in London have developed a device that uses sound to help generate an electrical charge, a development that could see mobile phones recharged by everyday background noise.

The device from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) uses the piezoelectric properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods to harvest energy from vibration and movement.

To make the device, ZnO nanoparticles are sprayed onto a plastic surface, which is then placed into a solution containing hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) and heated to 90oC. The hexagonal nanorods then grow from that layer of ZnO particles to cover the whole surface.

The team then used aluminium foil to form the electrical contacts. Furthermore, the coating can be applied to a range of surfaces.

According to QMUL, the ultimate device was the same size as a Nokia Lumia 925 and generated five volts.

Dr Joe Briscoe, a post doctoral research assistant at QMUL explained that decibel levels of around 70dB and above will give a measurable response, but more work remains to be done in order to increase the amount of power the device can generate. The team will also refine the methods used to produce the devices.

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