As digital technology becomes more ubiquitous and the Internet of Things is taking shape, the question of how to power everything is becoming ever more urgent. Japanese technology company Ricoh is looking at his new "energy producing rubber" as a solution. According to the company, transforms the new piezoelectric polymer pressure and vibration into electrical energy with high efficiency, but is extremely flexible and durable.
Piezoelectric materials come in two main forms; Ceramics and polymers. Both are based on the principle of the use of mechanical stresses, to generate electricity, and are used in the electronics to power is in specialized applications such as vibration and pressure sensors. Unfortunately both have their downsides. Convert ceramic to vibration energy with a high efficiency, but they are heavy, fragile, and often contain toxic lead, while polymers are light, flexible and durable, but not very efficient.
According to Ricoh, its new power generation rubber combines flexibility and high energy yield. Not only is it less fragile than ceramics, but it is also more flexible and more durable than other polymers; surviving several million applications in testing. Moreover, it is sensitive to light loads, yet produces high performance under heavier.
Ricoh is to betray not much like the new rubber works, giving their composition or specifications, but it does say that it is to produce in further research a commercially viable version of the polymer for both sensors and energy applications.
Source: Ricoh
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