Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Muskan Arora
Researchers at IIT Mandi have devised a novel approach to charge mobile phones using body heat, potentially revolutionizing the renewable energy sector.
The groundbreaking study, led by Dr. Ajay Soni, Associate Professor at IIT Mandi's School of Physical Sciences, was published in the German scientific journal Angewandte Chemie. The research team created materials capable of efficiently converting body heat into electricity.
The thermoelectric module, crafted from silver telluride nanowire, was demonstrated to generate significant voltage output upon human touch.
The device initiates charging solely upon human touch, offering a seamless and convenient method for powering electronic gadgets.
Ajay Soni emphasized that charging low power flexible electronic devices is now feasible through the utilization of body heat, thanks to the developed thermoelectric module.
Thermoelectricity, as defined by Science Direct, entails the direct conversion of heat into electricity or vice versa through two specific mechanisms.
The foundation of thermoelectricity traces back to the discoveries made by physicists such as Thomas Seebeck and Jean Peltier in 1821, elucidating the conversion of heat to electricity, known as thermoelectric effect.
The reverse phenomenon, where electric current induces heating or cooling in a material, was discovered by William Thomson, also known as Lord Kelvin, in 1851, further advancing the understanding of thermoelectric effects.