The team group said piezoelectrics can generate voltages up to 1.26 volts, and can produce even higher voltages, the Discovery Channel reported. "This is a key step to designing technology that will be useful in the near future," said co-author Z L Wang. "Every move you make, every step you take, you can generate electricity. The power output could quickly jump high enough to power iPods and cellphones.
By cramming 20,000 nanowires into three square centimetres, the scientists have created the world's first device powered solely by piezoelectric materials.
A piezoelectric material is something that, when pushed or pulled, generates a mild electrical charge. "Within three to five years piezoeleectric nanowires, woven into a cotton shirt or housed in a shoe heel, could charge a cellphone or laptop battery after even a short walk.
