The traditional use of Silicone implants Surgical is limited to cosmetic reasons, but researchers at the University of Princeton have had a much more original idea : to create silicone implants that generate electricity taking advantage of body movements. Is it possible in future to recharge your mobile phone or MP3 with the constant movement of our chest breathing ?
Although it may seem like science fiction, this is possible thanks to a property of some materials called piezoelectricity. A piezoelectric material generates a certain electric voltage to be distorted, a feature that is extremely useful from the most complex manufacturing electronic sensors automatic lighters up ( by pressing the button, what we do is to deform a piezoelectric material to the point that produces a spark due to electric potential difference ).
The experimental implants (like the one pictured ) are thin silicon wafers that contain a piezoelectric inside, in particular PZT, which is so efficient that converts 80 % of the mechanical energy applied to him in power.
The implants can be placed in many places where there is constant movement. The respiratory motion is the clearest case , but there are many others. For example, any joint would be an ideal place to produce electricity while walking.
Obviously, the possibilities for these implants go far beyond that of mobile phone recharge ( I doubt there are people so geeky as to implant a charger in the body). The clearest case is that of pacemaker which require a delicate surgical procedure to replace the battery before it is exhausted. With piezoelectric implants, the patient would have a perpetual battery powered.
And actually, there’s no need to insert these implants in the body to take advantage of the piezoelectric effect. For example, you could easily inserted into the sole of the shoe, which would generate electricity at every step. Of course it could be fun to recharge your phone by plugging the shoe as if it was the shoe phone Inspector Gadget Super 86.
