New wearable ring turns the body into a battery

Researchers at the University of Colorado, at Boulder, have developed a new low-cost, portable device that transforms the human body into a biological battery. The device, described in the journal Science Advances, is elastic enough that you can wear it as a ring, a bracelet or any other accessory that touches the skin.

It also takes advantage of a person’s natural heat, using thermoelectric generators to convert the internal temperature of the body into electricity. “In the future, we want to be able to power your portable electronic devices without having to include a battery,” said in a statement Jianliang Xiao, lead author of the new paper and associate professor in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering at CU Boulder.

Scientists have previously experimented with similar portable thermoelectric devices, but Xiao’s is elastic, can be repaired only when damaged, and is completely recyclable, making it a cleaner alternative to traditional electronic devices.

“Whenever a battery is used, that battery is running low and eventually, you will have to replace it,” Xiao said. “The great thing about our thermoelectric device is that it can use and provide constant energy.”

The group’s latest innovation starts with a base made from a stretchy material called polyimine. The scientists then place a series of thin thermoelectric chips on that base, connecting them all with liquid metal wires. The end product looks like a cross between a plastic bracelet and a miniature computer motherboard, or perhaps a technical diamond ring.

Source: dpa