Georgia Tech Unveils Prototype Nanogenerator

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have created a working prototype nanogenerator capable of generating as much as 4 watts per cubic centimeter of continuous direct current. The generators are green (to use), drawing power from natural motion in the surrounding environment. They are based on non-toxic chemicals and should be safe for use in biomechanical implants, but that's not their only potential use. From the article: "If you had a device like this in your shoes when you walked, you would be able to generate your own small current to power small electronics," Wang noted. "Anything that makes the nanowires move within the generator can be used for generating power. Very little force is required to move them."

SWEET

[The Media Mechanic]

I needed one of these to power my iPod Femto for 3 seconds.

Conservation of Energy

[grahamsz]

I wonder if i could generate enough energy from my hands shaking to power my espresso machine. that would be useful :)

Re:SWEET

[Anonymous Coward]

With one of these, Viagra, duct tape, and a trampoline, I bet I could fuel a Prius for days.

Kinetic

[Reason58]

Quite a few years ago I had a watch [seikousa.com] powered by the exact same principle. Merely walking around would generate the power it needed to keep itself running. Unfortunately as I got more and more into computers I found the watch holding less and less of a charge, until eventually it stopped working altogether. If I had to choose between movement and a watch or computers I would have to say I'm glad there's a clock in the bottom right corner of the screen.

How about the Wii?

[Pharmboy]

Couldn't this be used to make a self-powered Wii? Lord knows, I'm jumping around like a monkey when I play on that thing.

Wind power generator

[oskard]

Somebody should attempt to coat the blades of a windmill with these.

Re:Some redeming quality to loud sterios?

[andphi]

While it would be nice to make hay of other people's rudeness, I think there is only one appropriate response to someone who's driving around with music so loud (or bass-boosted) that it rattles the door panels of their vehicles: a rocket-propelled grenade aimed squarely up the glass-pack.

Re:How about the Wii?

[__aaclcg7560]

Are you sure you want one of these things strapped around your Wii?

Microsoft co-opts technology

[wsanders]

Ballmer to demo at CES: A laptop you can power by throwing it across the room!

Embed in childrens' clothing

[stoneguy]

When years ago I got a self-winding watch, I thought of putting such a mechanism in a backpack that the single-digit-set would be strapped into. Every day its spring could be discharged into some sort of energy reservoir. This would both harness kids' inexhaustible energy and slow them down a bit.

Now we have an unobtrusive direct-to-battery technology. Lets get some useful work out of those tykes!

Pfffft

[Anonymous Coward]

With that setup, MacGyver could power a Hummer H1 for years!

Re:Who is John Galt?

[camperslo]

Hopefully this will scale sufficiently to be useful. The summary mentions 4 Watts per cubic cm, but what they've done so far is extremely small.
The output currents they're getting are in the nanoamperes. I takes a billion nanoamperes to make 1 ampere.

Meanwhile, consider microturbine-driven generators in the urinary tract...

Keep the sodas and coffee coming!

Re:Wind power generator

[Anonymous Coward]

Windmills do not work that way! Goodnight! [youtube.com]

Re:Who is John Galt?

[HaiLHaiL]

Wonderful. I'm 600 pages into the book and I read a spoiler on Slashdot. Perfect. Might as well put the book down now. :-P

Re:Who is John Galt?

[illegalcortex]

BTW, Vader is Lukes father.

Also, it's a sled. His beloved childhood sled.

Sorry.

Re:Who is John Galt?

[HaiLHaiL]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! !!!!!!!!!

Re:SWEET

[Wylfing]

On second thought, forget the Prius.

Re:Who is John Galt?

[jamesshuang]

You want to put WHAT in your URINARY TRACT?!

Re:Kinetic

[VisceralLogic]

I bet if you switch to wearing your watch on your right hand, it keeps its charge better the more you use your computer.

That's true, but it takes a bit of practice before you get used to using a mouse with your left hand. Alternatively, I guess you could keep your watch on the left hand, and just learn to do it left handed.

Oh, he was talking about using a mouse? I thought it would be kept charged by other means...