It seems like a far-fetched dream this time but we could soon have an everlasting battery in our electronics. In a recent study by researchers from RMIT University in Melbourne, piezoelectric thin films are able to turn mechanical pressure into electricity. The study is published in the June issue of Advanced Functional Materials.

According to the researchers piezoelectrics materials are capable of converting pressure into electrical energy.

"The power of piezoelectrics could be integrated into running shoes to charge mobile phones, enable laptops to be powered through typing or even used to convert blood pressure into a power source for pacemakers - essentially creating an everlasting battery," said lead co-author Dr, Madhu Bhaskaran.

Humans can now power a variety of electronic devices, including cell phones and laptops. Your laptop could run without having to recharge. Smartphones could integrate this new tech into a touchscreen which would allow taps or swipes to power the device. Imagine having your smartphone being fully charged all the time. This technology could unplug devices from sockets forever.

Dr. Bhaskaran co-authored the study with Dr. Sharath Sririam within the Microplatforms Research Group of RMIT. The study focused on thin film coatings because they are more easily adapted into existing electronic technology. The study was funded by the Australian Research Council and focused on finding alternative energy solutions. The study for the first time measured just how much voltage was generated by the thin films.

The next step in the discovery of the everlasting battery seems to be more research. The technology still has a ways to go before being introduced to the mainstream. The electrical energy generated will need to be amplified while keeping cost and size down for mass production. Once researchers could solve this then you may soon see people charging their phones just by swiping or typing with them.