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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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This Breakthrough Technology Could Make IoT Devices Run Forever

In today’s fast-growing digital world, tiny devices are quietly working all around us. From smartwatches on our wrists to sensors in factories and homes, these devices form what we call the Internet of Things (IoT). They collect data, monitor environments, and help make smarter decisions. But there’s one major problem—power.

Most of these devices rely on traditional batteries like lithium or nickel-zinc. These batteries need frequent charging or replacement, lack flexibility, and can harm the environment. As the number of IoT devices increases rapidly, this power problem becomes even more serious. Scientists have been searching for a better, cleaner, and more reliable solution.

Now, a team led by Dan-Liang Wen has developed an exciting new technology that could change everything—a self-powered system that doesn’t need batteries at all.

A New Way to Generate Power

The breakthrough comes in the form of a triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator (TEHNG). While the name may sound complex, the idea behind it is simple: it converts everyday mechanical movements—like vibrations or human motion—into electricity.

This technology combines two powerful energy-generation methods:

  • Triboelectric effect: Electricity is generated when two different materials come into contact and then separate.

  • Electromagnetic induction: Electricity is produced when a magnet moves near a coil.

By combining these two methods, the TEHNG can generate more power than using either method alone.

High Performance in a Small Device

One of the most impressive features of this new system is its performance. The TEHNG can produce up to 21.8 milliwatts of power, which is a significant achievement for such a small device.

To reach this level, the researchers made several smart improvements:

  • Material Optimization: They selected high-performance materials like PVC and PDMS to maximize energy generation.

  • Microstructure Design: Tiny pyramid-shaped structures were added to improve contact efficiency and boost output.

  • Structural Innovation: A flexible circular spring-cantilever design allows the device to respond effectively to movement.

  • Electromagnetic Tuning: The size and arrangement of magnets and coils were carefully optimized.

These enhancements allow the device to work efficiently and consistently, even after 28,000 repeated cycles, proving its durability and reliability.

A Fully Self-Powered System

Generating power is only part of the story. The real breakthrough is how this energy is used.

The researchers built an all-in-one microsystem by integrating several key components directly with the TEHNG:

  • A power management module to control and optimize energy flow

  • An energy storage unit to store the generated electricity

  • A signal processing circuit to handle sensor data

  • A microcontroller unit (MCU) to manage operations and communication

This integration allows the system to operate completely on its own—without any external power source.

Real-Time Sensing and Wireless Communication

To demonstrate its capabilities, the team added three types of sensors to the system:

  • Temperature sensor

  • Pressure sensor

  • Ultraviolet (UV) sensor

The device continuously collects environmental data and sends it wirelessly to a mobile phone using built-in Bluetooth. It updates data in real time at a rate of once per second (1 Hz).

What makes this truly remarkable is that all of this happens using only the energy generated by the TEHNG. The entire system consumes just 1.019 milliwatts, making it extremely energy-efficient.

Why This Matters

This innovation solves several major challenges in modern electronics:

1. No More Battery Dependency

Devices no longer need frequent charging or battery replacement, reducing maintenance and cost.

2. Environmentally Friendly

By eliminating batteries, this technology helps reduce electronic waste and pollution.

3. Continuous Operation

The system can run continuously as long as there is movement or vibration available.

4. Flexible and Wearable

The design allows for flexibility, making it ideal for wearable devices and portable electronics.

Applications Across Industries

The potential uses of this technology are vast:

  • Wearable Devices: Smartwatches and health monitors that never need charging

  • Industrial Monitoring: Sensors in factories that run without maintenance

  • Smart Homes: Self-powered environmental sensors

  • Healthcare: Continuous patient monitoring systems

  • Remote Locations: Devices that operate in hard-to-reach areas without power access

In all these cases, the ability to operate without batteries can significantly improve efficiency and reliability.

Overcoming Past Limitations

Earlier energy-harvesting technologies faced a major issue—low power output. This made it difficult to support real-time wireless communication and continuous sensing.

The TEHNG overcomes this limitation by combining multiple energy-generation mechanisms and optimizing every aspect of its design. As a result, it delivers enough power to support a fully functional IoT system.

This is a major step forward, as it demonstrates a completely self-powered, real-time, wireless multisensing system—something that was rarely achieved before.

The Future of Self-Powered Electronics

This technology represents more than just a new device—it signals a shift in how we think about powering electronics.

Instead of relying on stored energy (batteries), we can now use harvested energy from the environment. This approach is more sustainable, efficient, and practical for the growing world of IoT.

While traditional batteries may still be needed in some cases, innovations like TEHNG could replace them in many everyday applications.

Final Thoughts

The development of the triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator is a powerful example of how smart engineering can solve real-world problems. By turning simple movements into usable electricity, this technology opens the door to a future where devices can power themselves.

Imagine a world where your smartwatch never needs charging, industrial sensors run for years without maintenance, and smart systems operate continuously without harming the environment.

That future is no longer far away—it’s already taking shape.

And with innovations like this, the dream of truly self-powered electronics is becoming a reality.

Reference: Wen, DL., Huang, P., Deng, HT. et al. High-performance hybrid nanogenerator for self-powered wireless multi-sensing microsystems. Microsyst Nanoeng 9, 94 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-023-00563-7

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