Aidin Delnavaz demonstrates a new chin strap device that can harvest the energy of talking or chewing to create electricity. Photo credit: Aidin Delnavaz/Jérémie Voix
Researchers have created a device capable of harvesting the mechanical energy generated by chewing or talking.
The device works via the piezoelectic effect, in which certain materials generate electricity when stretched or squeezed. In this case, the chin strap contains a strip of piezoelectric material made of electrodes that are embedded into plastic.
Chewing gum for 60 seconds is enough to generate 18 microwatts of power. While this amount of power is too small for most applications, if the power is multiplied by adding more strips, the device could be used to run low-power electronic devices such as electronic hearing protectors, hearing aids and communication earpieces.
Original research paper published in Smart Materials and Structures on September 17, 2014.
Names and affiliations of selected authors
