Follow US Investment Immigration, follow US Technology: Many consumers are constantly making more demands regarding the battery life of their mobile phones. Researchers at Duke University in the United States are developing a new technology that can efficiently convert wireless microwave signals into electrical energy, thereby conveniently charging mobile phones. Some commentators say this means that in the future, mobile phones may no longer need chargers.
A press release recently issued by Duke University stated that, in principle, this technology is similar to solar panels, but instead of converting light energy, it converts microwave signals such as satellite communication signals and wireless network signals. The key to its success lies in creating "metamaterials" that can "capture" and convert various forms of wave energy.
In the experiment, researchers inserted five fiberglass boards onto a circuit board and connected them with copper wires to create a simple "metamaterial" circuit capable of "capturing" microwave signals. According to the researchers, this circuit is low-cost to manufacture, yet its energy conversion efficiency is 36.8%, which is comparable to the conversion efficiency of solar panels. The output voltage of the device is 7.3 volts. In contrast, the output voltage of USB chargers for small electronic devices in daily life is only about 5 volts.
The researchers stated that when the relevant technology matures, this "metamaterial" circuit could potentially be made small enough to be integrated into mobile phones, thereby using various microwave signals to charge them. "Much of the work on 'metamaterials' to date has been theoretical, and our research shows that 'metamaterials' have great potential for use in consumer electronics."