Keyboard typing to charge mobile battries

What if I told you that you could charge the battery of your phone or laptop simply by typing on the physical or the virtual keyboard, would you believe me? This is not a far-fetched scene from a Sci-Fi novel, but a real project on which a team of Australian specialists are currently working.
Researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology have developed a technology that allows portable devices to self-generate energy using a thin layer made of piezoelectric materials which can turn mechanical pressure into electricity. For a quick reminder, piezoelectricity represents the property of some ionic crystals to become electrically charged in response to mechanical stress.






Dr. Madhu Bhaskaran, the project leader has explained that the project focuses on studying the properties of piezoelectric materials so as to develop a method to manufacture chipsets using the thin film technology. ”Our research shows piezoelectrics could even be used to convert blood pressure into a power source for pacemakers – essentially creating an everlasting battery”, Bhaskaran added.
This means that piezoelectric materials could even be integrated in, say, running shoes and users could charge their mobile phones while running, or in laptop keyboards, which means that users will be able to charge their laptop’s battery while typing. However, such piezoelectric structures are extremely complex and difficult to adapt to mass production.
The project started in 2006 and is currently in its research phase. It is estimated that another two or three years have to pass until researchers will be able to manufacture and commercialize the product. Researchers have studied piezoelectric materials and focused initially on nano-string structures, but have come to the conclusion that nano-films can be better integrated in existing technologies.
“Our study focused on thin film coatings because we believe they hold the only practical possibility of integrating piezoelectrics into existing electronic technology”, the project leader explained. ”With the drive for alternative energy solutions, we need to find more efficient ways to power microchips, which are the building blocks of everyday technology like the smarter phone or faster computer”, Dr. Bhaskaran concluded.

Dhruv

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