The success of a new technology that is in the pipeline may soon turn charging your iPod without any power plug into reality. The scientists at Georgia are developing piezoelectric materials. The first of its kind, these materials are created by the combination of 20,000 nano wires packed into three square centimeters. These materials generate low electrical charge whenever they are pushed or pulled.

If the researchers are to be believed, users would be able to recharge their cell phone or for that matter their laptop battery very soon after a short walk. All they would require is to wove the piezoelectric materials in their shirt or place them in shoe heels. The team led by Z.L. Wang who is a professor at the Georgia Tech have found that voltages of 1.26 and higher can be achieved by the help of the piezoelectric wire.

The team managed to create a nanogenerator by manipulating single zinc oxide nano wire. Such a wire which is very hard to see from the naked eye measures around 50-200 nanometers. Around 20,000 nano wires would be placed together with two electrodes on either side. It would measure only three centimeters. This arrangement is designed to increase the production of electricity. The wires amplify the electric charge quite significantly.

The nano wires can also boost the power output by almost 30 times if they are arranged faster and harder. The zinc oxide increases the power output up to 10 times. The devices powered by piezoelectric wire would also be very beneficial in detecting fires and collecting data related to weather.