Electrici-Tees

Could we cha cha slide our way to renewable power? 

This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. 

Someone with the right ENERGY (like Cher) can LIGHT up a room! But what about… LITERALLY?

Enter Pooi See Lee and team at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. They studied electrical clothing.

Their idea started with one tiny component: a stretchable electrode that harnesses mechanical movement! The electrode is attached to a durable fabric, compatible with electric charge. Squeezing or pressing on the fabric creates tension on the electrode to power it up. 

Then they connected the fabric to a board of LED lights. By tapping a small piece, they powered up a hundred lights! With enough surface area, this may be enough to charge your phone! This high-tech textile may help pave the way for sustainable energy.

Battery’s dead? Plug it into your electrici-TEE shirt and you’re good to go! Then do the chicken dance to keep Angry Birds going ALL DAY.


Reference: Jiang, F., Zhou, X., Lv, J., Chen, J., Chen, J., Kongcharoen, H., et al. (2022). Stretchable, Breathable, and Stable Lead-Free Perovskite/Polymer Nanofiber Composite for Hybrid Triboelectric and Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting. Adv. Mater. 34, 2200042. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202200042.