<section class="recurrent-share lg:px-0 mb-5" data-content-type="Feature,Non-Evergreen,Non-Membership" data-post-id="676708">
<div class="block-content-wrapper flex flex-row align-center gap-4 lg:gap-8 w-full text-center mx-auto md:mx-0 items-center justify-center">
<h2 class="recurrent-share-block-title font-primary font-bold text-2xl text-secondary-900">Share</h2>
<ul class="flex flex-row list-none gap-4 lg:gap-8">
<li class="list-none">
<a aria-label="Share on Twitter" class="flex items-center justify-center w-5 h-5 svg-social-icon" data-name="Twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=How%20body%20heat%20could%20replace%20batteries%20in%20wearables%20of%20the%20future https://www.popsci.com/technology/body-heat-power-source/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">
<svg class="twitter-icon social-icon" viewbox="2 2 28 28" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<path d="M7.04 2.56a4.49 4.49 0 0 0-4.48 4.48v17.92a4.49 4.49 0 0 0 4.48 4.48h17.92a4.49 4.49 0 0 0 4.48-4.48V7.04a4.49 4.49 0 0 0-4.48-4.48H7.04Zm0 1.28h17.92a3.19 3.19 0 0 1 3.2 3.2v17.92a3.19 3.19 0 0 1-3.2 3.2H7.04a3.19 3.19 0 0 1-3.2-3.2V7.04a3.19 3.19 0 0 1 3.2-3.2Zm1.335 4.48 5.903 8.386L8.32 23.68h1.6L15 17.733l4.185 5.947h5.08l-6.48-9.207L23.04 8.32h-1.6l-4.377 5.126-3.608-5.126h-5.08Zm2.45 1.28h1.961l9.03 12.8h-1.962L10.825 9.6Z"></path>
</svg>
</a>
</li>
<li class="list-none">
<a aria-label="Share on Facebook" class="flex items-center justify-center w-5 h-5 svg-social-icon" data-name="Facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.popsci.com/technology/body-heat-power-source/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">
<svg class="facebook-icon social-icon" viewbox="0 0 512 512" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<path d="M452,0H60C26.916,0,0,26.916,0,60v392c0,33.084,26.916,60,60,60h392c33.084,0,60-26.916,60-60V60
C512,26.916,485.084,0,452,0z M472,452c0,11.028-8.972,20-20,20H338V309h61.79L410,247h-72v-43c0-16.975,13.025-30,30-30h41v-62
h-41c-50.923,0-91.978,41.25-91.978,92.174V247H216v62h60.022v163H60c-11.028,0-20-8.972-20-20V60c0-11.028,8.972-20,20-20h392
c11.028,0,20,8.972,20,20V452z"></path>
</svg>
</a>
</li>
<li class="list-none">
<a aria-label="Share on Pinterest" class="flex items-center justify-center w-5 h-5 svg-social-icon" data-name="Pinterest" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.popsci.com/technology/body-heat-power-source/&media=https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ultralighjt-wearable-sensor-eimage-1-1.jpg?quality=85&w=1920&description=Sensor-equipped%20wearables%20like%20smartwatches%2C%20fitness%20bands%2C%20rings%2C%20and%20even%20some%20internet%20connected%20clothing%20have%20lurched%20their%20way%20into%20mainstream%20acceptance%20in%20recent%20years.%20Though%20many%20of%20the%20devices%20have%20become%20more%20compact%20over%20successive%20iterations%2C%20almost%20all%20still%20need%20some%20sort%20of%20battery%20to%20hold%20power.%20Batteries%20can%20add%20weight%20and%20need%20to%20be%20charged%20%5B%26hellip%3B%5D" rel="noopener" target="_blank">
<svg class="pinterest-icon social-icon" viewbox="0 0 50 50" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<path d="M 25 2 C 12.309295 2 2 12.309295 2 25 C 2 37.690705 12.309295 48 25 48 C 37.690705 48 48 37.690705 48 25 C 48 12.309295 37.690705 2 25 2 z M 25 4 C 36.609825 4 46 13.390175 46 25 C 46 36.609825 36.609825 46 25 46 C 22.876355 46 20.82771 45.682142 18.896484 45.097656 C 19.75673 43.659418 20.867347 41.60359 21.308594 39.90625 C 21.570728 38.899887 22.648438 34.794922 22.648438 34.794922 C 23.348841 36.132057 25.395277 37.263672 27.574219 37.263672 C 34.058123 37.263672 38.732422 31.300682 38.732422 23.890625 C 38.732422 16.78653 32.935409 11.472656 25.476562 11.472656 C 16.196831 11.472656 11.271484 17.700825 11.271484 24.482422 C 11.271484 27.636307 12.94892 31.562193 15.634766 32.8125 C 16.041611 33.001865 16.260073 32.919834 16.353516 32.525391 C 16.425459 32.226044 16.788267 30.766792 16.951172 30.087891 C 17.003269 29.871239 16.978043 29.68405 16.802734 29.470703 C 15.913793 28.392399 15.201172 26.4118 15.201172 24.564453 C 15.201172 19.822048 18.791452 15.232422 24.908203 15.232422 C 30.18976 15.232422 33.888672 18.832872 33.888672 23.980469 C 33.888672 29.796219 30.95207 33.826172 27.130859 33.826172 C 25.020554 33.826172 23.440361 32.080359 23.947266 29.939453 C 24.555054 27.38426 25.728516 24.626944 25.728516 22.78125 C 25.728516 21.130713 24.842754 19.753906 23.007812 19.753906 C 20.850369 19.753906 19.117188 21.984457 19.117188 24.974609 C 19.117187 26.877359 19.761719 28.166016 19.761719 28.166016 C 19.761719 28.166016 17.630543 37.176514 17.240234 38.853516 C 16.849091 40.52931 16.953851 42.786365 17.115234 44.466797 C 9.421139 41.352465 4 33.819328 4 25 C 4 13.390175 13.390175 4 25 4 z"></path>
</svg>
</a>
</li>
<li class="list-none">
<a aria-label="Share via Email" class="flex items-center justify-center w-5 h-5 svg-social-icon" data-name="Email" href="mailto:?subject=How%20body%20heat%20could%20replace%20batteries%20in%20wearables%20of%20the%20future&body=https://www.popsci.com/technology/body-heat-power-source/">
<svg class="email-icon social-icon" viewbox="0 0 512 512" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<path d="m434.146 59.882h-389.234c-24.766 0-44.912 20.146-44.912 44.912v269.47c0 24.766 20.146 44.912 44.912 44.912h389.234c24.766 0 44.912-20.146 44.912-44.912v-269.47c0-24.766-20.146-44.912-44.912-44.912zm0 29.941c2.034 0 3.969.422 5.738 1.159l-200.355 173.649-200.356-173.649c1.769-.736 3.704-1.159 5.738-1.159zm0 299.411h-389.234c-8.26 0-14.971-6.71-14.971-14.971v-251.648l199.778 173.141c2.822 2.441 6.316 3.655 9.81 3.655s6.988-1.213 9.81-3.655l199.778-173.141v251.649c-.001 8.26-6.711 14.97-14.971 14.97z"></path>
</svg>
</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</section>
<div class="content-wrapper" data-toc-container="">
<p class="article-paragraph skip">Sensor-equipped wearables like <a href="https://www.popsci.com/gear/apple-watch-series-8-review/" target="_blank">smartwatches</a>, <a href="https://www.popsci.com/gear/amazfit-band-7-fitness-health-tracker-review/" target="_blank">fitness bands</a>, <a href="https://www.popsci.com/gear/oura-ring-3-early-black-friday-cyber-monday-amazon-deal/" target="_blank">rings</a>, and even some <a href="https://www.eetimes.eu/iot-clothing-the-next-generation-of-wearables/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">internet connected clothing</a> have lurched their way into mainstream acceptance in recent years. Though many of the devices have become more compact over successive iterations, almost all still need some sort of battery to hold power. Batteries can add weight and need to be charged which can present issues with certain healthcare wearables where constant, uninterrupted monitoring of a user’s vitals are crucial. </p>
<p class="article-paragraph skip">Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia believe they may have come up with a solution: a thin, flexible, and cost-effective film that converts body heat into power. That energy source, the researchers argue in a study published today in <em>Science, </em>could then be used in lieu of batteries to power next generation wearable tech. The study builds off other <a href="https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2024/07/23-softbotics-device.html" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">recent</a> <a href="https://www.washington.edu/news/2024/09/10/uw-researchers-develop-a-stretchable-wearable-device-that-lights-up-an-led-using-only-the-warmth-of-your-skin/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">research</a> showing how small thermoelectric devices can essentially turn the human body into a <a href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/geothermal-ai/" target="_blank">mini geo-thermal reactor</a> to power wearbels. It’s still early, but researchers are hopeful the film, if scaled properly, could help bring about more useful smart clothing and longer lasting wearable medical devices that could potentially function without batteries.</p>
<p class="article-paragraph skip">“Flexible thermoelectric devices can be worn comfortably on the skin where they effectively turn the temperature difference between the human body and surrounding air into electricity,” Queensland University Zhi-Gang Chen and paper lead author said in a statement.</p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-body-heart-power-could-lead-to-more-sustainable-electronics-nbsp">Body heart power could lead to more sustainable electronics </h2>
<p class="article-paragraph skip">To build out their flexible film, the researchers use tiny crystals called “nanobinders” to form a layer of printed bismuth telluride sheets. These nano binders formed a thermoelectric material that was useful for achieving impressive flexibility and efficiency. The team then used a complex chemical technique called “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/solvothermal-synthesis" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">solvothermal synthesis</a>” to create nanocrystals—tiny crystals with dimensions of just a few nanometers. They fabricated the film using a screen printing method which they argue could cut down on costs for large scale production.</p>
<p class="article-paragraph skip">The result of all that small-scale engineering is a thin film the researchers say can turn body heat into a power source. In addition to potentially helping create self-powered electronics, the researchers say the film could also be fit into tight spaces in order to cool computer chips. That cooling process could help increase the efficiency and performance of advanced computer chips increasingly found in smartphones and computers. That cooling process could also be helpful in large data centers, which currently use <a href="https://gizmodo.com/chatgpt-ai-water-185000-gallons-training-nuclear-1850324249" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">large amounts of evaporated water</a> to keep servers from getting too hot. One day, the researchers said, films like this could even be applied to smart wearables that could power a heating or air conditioning system. In other words, that means future athletes might be able to throw on smart clothing that cools them using power derived from their own body heat. </p>
<p class="article-paragraph skip">The study comes just several months after researchers from the University of Washington demonstrated the creation of a <a href="https://www.washington.edu/news/2024/09/10/uw-researchers-develop-a-stretchable-wearable-device-that-lights-up-an-led-using-only-the-warmth-of-your-skin/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">similar stretchy thermoelectric wearable</a> that also harnesses human body heat for power. In that study, published in the journa<em>l Advanced Materials, </em>researchers created semiconductors that convert heat to electricity. Those are connected with printed liquid metal traces. The wearable was then able to power on an LED light using energy generated only from the user’s body and without a battery. </p>
<p class="article-paragraph skip">“This wasn’t possible before,” University of Washington Assistant professor Mohammad Malakooti said in a statement. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube is-lazied wp-block-embed-youtube">
<div class="lazied-youtube-frame" data-iframe-classes="wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio" data-video-id="uNGNP5EXNWs">
<img class="lazied-youtube-frame-thumbnail" loading="lazy" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uNGNP5EXNWs/hqdefault.jpg"/>
<svg class="lazied-youtube-frame-icon" viewbox="0 0 68 48" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
<path d="M66.52 7.74c-.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79.13 34 0 34 0S12.21.13 6.9 1.55c-2.93.78-4.63 3.26-5.42 6.19C.06 13.05 0 24 0 24s.06 10.95 1.48 16.26c.78 2.93 2.49 5.41 5.42 6.19C12.21 47.87 34 48 34 48s21.79-.13 27.1-1.55c2.93-.78 4.64-3.26 5.42-6.19C67.94 34.95 68 24 68 24s-.06-10.95-1.48-16.26z" fill="red"></path>
<path d="M45 24 27 14v20" fill="white"></path>
</svg>
</div>
</figure>
<noscript>
</noscript>
<p class="article-paragraph skip">Researchers at Carnegie Mellon’s Department of Mechanical Engineering also recently created a first-of-its kind body heat powered wearable device <a href="https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2024/07/23-softbotics-device.html" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">equipped with a pulse oximetry sensor</a>. Though still early, these advances hint towards a future where more self-sustaining electric equipment is possible. That would be useful for devices like glucose monitors or pacemakers where faulty or worn down power sources can lead to dangerous results. If properly scaled up, these self powered devices could also lessen, if even in a small way, our news to create ever more resource intensive and environmentally harmful batteries.</p>
<section class="content-widget content-widget--large">
<span class="block bg-secondary-300 h-2 w-16 mt-10 mb-8"> </span>
<div class="flex flex-col md:flex-row items-start justify-items-start">
<div class="mb-4 md:mb-0 md:w-4/12 w-full">
<img alt="" class="max-w-[100%]" height="169" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?quality=85&w=300" srcset="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg 1920w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=768&h=432 768w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=1536&h=864 1536w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=800&h=450 800w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=356&h=200 356w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=1173&h=660 1173w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=711&h=400 711w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=1486&h=836 1486w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=1227&h=690 1227w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=384&h=216 384w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=718&h=404 718w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=1589&h=894 1589w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=1337&h=752 1337w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=1234&h=694 1234w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=280&h=158 280w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=1440&h=810 1440w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=289&h=163 289w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=370&h=208 370w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=308&h=173 308w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=50&h=28 50w" width="300"/> </div>
<div class="ml-0 md:ml-10 md:w-8/12 w-full">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">
Win the Holidays with PopSci's Gift Guides </h3>
<div class="content-widget-content mb-4">
<p>Shopping for, well, anyone? The PopSci team’s holiday gift recommendations mean you’ll never need to buy another last-minute gift card.</p>
</div>
<div class="flex flex-col sm:flex-row md:flex-col items-end sm:items-center md:items-end justify-between">
<style>
</style>
<a class="product-button-link no-underline w-[281px] h-auto rounded inline-flex justify-center align-center py-3 px-6 uppercase font-bold hover:!no-underline focus:bg-secondary-700 active:bg-secondary-900 content-widget-cta-button mb-2 bg-accent-900 text-white hover:!bg-secondary-900 hover:!text-white" href="https://www.popsci.com/category/gift-guides/" target="_blank">
SEE GIFT GUIDES</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<span class="block bg-secondary-300 h-2 w-16 mt-8 mb-10"> </span>
</section>
</div>
How body heat could replace batteries in wearables of the future.
@PopularScience reports that researchers say the same technology could be used to cool down hot semiconductor chips.
https://flip.it/N29hoe
#Science #Tech #Technology #Wearables #Engineering #Battery
06.03.2025 14:02 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
24.02.2025 19:11 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
18.02.2025 02:12 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
25.01.2025 23:48 — 👍 38451 🔁 8606 💬 893 📌 434
20.12.2024 16:53 — 👍 3544 🔁 350 💬 65 📌 19
07.12.2024 14:41 — 👍 37255 🔁 4561 💬 382 📌 191
