CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS — Scientists have created a device that can power electronics, wearables, and other devices without the use of batteries or wires, according to MIT News.<br /><br />Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology created a rectifying antenna, or rectenna, using a thin molybdenum disulphide semiconductor that's only three atoms thick.<br /><br />Electromagnetic waves like Wi-Fi are captured via the device's radio frequency antenna, and then converted into direct current.<br /><br />The rectenna produced 40 microwatts of power when exposed to typical wifi signals of around 150 microwatts, enough to power an LED or silicon chips.<br /><br />According to MIT, early applications for the technology include flexible smartphones and wearable electronics.<br /><br />The device can also reportedly be used to power medical implants or swallowable sensors in place of traditional batteries, which can leak lithium and be lethal to patients.<br /><br />Due to its flexibility, the device can be fabricated to cover large areas. Researchers believe it's possible to develop electronic systems that can wrap around highways, bridges, or office walls.<br /><br />Though the technology has been around for a while, most rectennas are made from rigid materials like silicon or gallium arsenide, according to Science Alert. The MIT team is the first to create a flexible rectenna that can generate a practical amount of electricity.<br /><br />The team's research was published Monday in the journal Nature. They are now reportedly planning to improve efficiency and build more complex systems.
