Researchers at UC Berkely have created energy-scavenging nanofibers from organic polyvinylidene fluoride, or PVDF, which makes them flexible and relatively easy and cheap to manufacture. They work by harvesting energy from ordinary body movements. These nano-sized generators have “piezoelectric” properties that allow them to convert the energy created through mechanical stress, stretches and twists into electricity and who twist and stretches more than a Soldier in the field? The nanogenerators have diameters as small as 500 nanometers, or about 100 times thinner than a human hair and one-tenth the width of common cloth fibers. Additionallym the researchers repeatedly tugged and tweaked the nanofibers, generating electrical outputs ranging from 5 to 30 millivolts and 0.5 to 3 nanoamps. Such performance would make them well suited for use in a combat uniform.
We continue to see the development of these piezoelectric technologies that harness energy from common tasks. Some are integrated directly into the clothing and footwear and others are appliques designed to be added and removed from equipment as needed. Currently, the nanofibers features in this article are averaging about 12/5 percent efficiency but one day much of power a Soldier needs for his equipment may come from energy harvested as he conducts common tasks. Oh the possibilities.