Dr. Sang-Woo Kim of the Institute of Nanotechnology at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul is at the head of a team that have developed a new kind of batteries that allows users to charge their cell phones batteries by talking in the cell phone. As they reached a method to convert the energy of sound to electricity.
This sound-converting technology uses strands of zinc oxide pressed between two electrodes. A sound-absorbing pad on top vibrates when
sound waves hit it, causing the tiny wires to compress and release. This is what generates an electrical current. Sang-Woo Kim developed the technology at the Institute of Nanotechnology at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul.
A prototype of the technology was able to convert 100 decibels into 50 millivolts of electricity. That’s not enough to charge a phone, but Kim and his team hope to produce more energy at lower sound levels by experimenting with the material used for the tiny wires.
The sound-power technology wouldn’t only be useful for powering up your iPhone hp 484170-001 battery compaq 484170-001 battery , says Dr. Sang-Woo Kim. It could also hold the answer for a more practical recharging method for electric cars.
The technology would also be able to harness background noise and even music to charge a phone while it is not in use. However, there could be a downside to the innovation, if it gives people a new reason to shout into their phones as they attempt to squeeze in every extra bit of power they can.