Scientists have invented the world's most efficient energy-concentrating machine, capable of powering devices from a person's fingers.
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Scientists at the University of California, San Diego, have discovered that a thin, flexible strip placed on the skin could generate enough electricity from a user's sweat to power wearables and other devices.
In addition to generating electricity from sweat, biofuel cells (BFC) can also harvest additional energy from light finger pressure from activities such as typing or playing the piano.
"We envision this being used in any everyday activity that involves touch, things that a person would normally do at work, at home, watching TV or eating food," said Joseph Wang, a professor of nanoengineering at UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.
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Professor Wang and other authors of the study detailing the system described it as the "holy grail" of energy harvesting as it does not rely on external, erratic energy sources such as sunlight or motion.
According to scientists, the fingertips provide the ideal location for the strips, as they have the highest concentration of sweat glands compared to any other spot on the human body.
BFCs can produce 300 millijoules of energy per square centimeter, representing a significant step forward in harnessing electrical energy from the body, which previously relied on intense exercise or movement to produce any significant energy.
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As part of their experiments, the researchers used the device to power a vitamin C detection system, but they claim it could be adapted to health and wellness applications, such as glucose meters.
«We are also looking at enabling wireless connectivity on mobile devices for extended continuous sensing. There are many exciting possibilities.»
The study was published in the scientific journal Joule on Tuesday.
