MASSACHUSETTS INSITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MASSACHUSETTS, USA. Researchers have recently developed a new type of material that may replace the conventional batteries that we use. With this new material, mechanical energy may be easily converted to electricity. Since it is made from a new type of bio-film, it may even be used for more applications because of its naturally versatile characteristic.

The researchers are just as excited about this new material as they expect it to be used for more applications as they achieve higher efficiency in producing electricity with it. At the same time, they are also expecting this new material to be put to use in large scale, as well as water-vapor-powered generators and even smaller generators for wearable electronics.

This newly-developed polymer film is made out of two different separate polymers which forms an interlocking network. The first polymer is polypyrrole which is known for providing structural support as it forms a hard yet flexible matrix. The second polymer is polyol-borate which is known for its gel form and its natural capability to expand once it absorbs water. Together, they create a stronger force and a much bigger displacement.

The team of researchers was headed by Mingming Ma, a postdoc at MIT’s David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. The good thing about this new type of polymer film is that it does not need the manipulation of environmental conditions as compared to other technologies similar to it. Another application that could make it big for this bio-film is attaching it to clothing. In the near future, we could easily power our devices by just working a sweat.