Scientists at the Queen Mary University of London are currently trying to discover alternative power sources to charge cell phones. The research group recently developed a prototype panel that is able to charge from environmental vibrations, such as music and people talking, according to The Verge.
The tool is referred to as a “nanogenerator” and has miniscule zinc oxide rods sprayed onto it which enables it to generate electricity whenever there is background noise. The research group previously found that solar cells worked better when there were acoustic vibrations. However, their prototype does not need any solar part. The scientists stated that this method of charging the phone is a cheap alternative and produces the same amount of electricity as typical phone wall-chargers.
The research group says that music, talking, and traffic are all ways to charge the phone. However, more experimentation is required to further develop the product as different noise levels affect how much power the phone has.
