The same piezoelectric effect that ignites your gas grill with the push of a button could one day power sensors in your body via the respiration in your nose.
Writing in the September issue of the journal Energy and Environmental Science, Materials Science and Engineering Professor Xudong Wang, postdoctoral Researcher Chengliang Sun and graduate student Jian Shi report creating a plastic microbelt that vibrates when passed by low-speed airflow such as human respiration.
As we know it
Piezoelectric generators are made up of piezoelectric materials, these materials have a natural ability to create electrical potential when compressed, expanded or changed in shape (mechanical change). In other words, piezoelectric effect is nothing but the ability of certain materials to convert the mechanical change into electric charge. This effect works the reverse way too. Putting the charge through the material will also result in change of shape. One of the major use of piezoelectric generators is for energy collection. These generators can collect enough energy to power your personal gadgets and phones.
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