Developed graphene charging energy storage from Wi-Fi (2 photos)

Among the most important engineering challenges facingbefore the developers of all mobile devices, the priority is to extend battery life and ensure timely recharging of the gadget. The ideology of modern wireless charging technology is identical to traditional wired and requires finding the device in close proximity to an energy source. However, a huge number of electronic devices are currently creating electromagnetic radiation around themselves, most of which is wasted and can become one of the sources of energy.

Utilization of ownerless electromagnetic energy,which is saturated with the space surrounding modern man, took up developers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Based on the research results, the engineers presented a report containing a technical description, with drawings and diagrams, of a device capable of “extracting” energy from electromagnetic fields surrounding a person created by various electronic devices, including Wi-Fi routers. The energy thus obtained can be redirected to recharge mobile devices.

Such alternative energy sources are mainlyterahertz high-frequency waves “T-rays” emit (the frequency is in the range between microwave and infrared radiation). It is quite difficult to utilize the energy emitted in this spectrum.

In the laboratory of MIT proposed to create a terahertza rectifier that allows you to extract energy from the "T-rays". The device uses a small square plate of graphene connected to boron nitride (BN) and the antennas connected to them located on the sides. Antennas pick up terahertz radiation and use its energy to create directional motion of electrons in graphene.

The developers claim that for such devicesPerfectly pure graphene should be used, since any foreign elements will scatter the electron flux. To create a directed motion of electrons, a layer of boron nitride was used, which transforms the random motion of electrons in graphene into an electron flow in the desired direction. The electrons of graphene “excited” by terahertz waves as they approached the boron and nitrogen atoms experienced a multidirectional effect, called “oblique scattering” by physicists, which led to the further movement of electrons in one direction.

Currently, such chargers mayaccumulate only a small part of the terahertz energy and charge low-power devices. But now terahertz rectifiers are able to energize electronic implants, in particular pacemakers. Further developments of scientists from MIT are aimed at creating devices that can use the energy of the radiation around us to charge more powerful mobile devices without interrupting their work.