Lanzhou: Scientists in China have made a significant breakthrough by identifying a new electrical property in wood, opening the door to greener and more sustainable electronic technologies.
The study, conducted by researchers at Lanzhou University and published in Nature Communications, shows that wood can generate electricity when bent — a phenomenon known as flexoelectricity, Xinhua reported.
Flexoelectricity occurs when a material produces an electrical charge under bending or uneven stress. Unlike the more familiar piezoelectric effect, where electricity is generated by pressure, this effect can be observed in a wide range of materials.
Researchers explained that while flexoelectricity has been widely studied in man-made materials such as metals and ceramics, it had not been clearly demonstrated in natural materials like wood due to its complex internal structure.
To overcome this challenge, the team modified the structure of wood to enhance its response and carried out a series of experiments. These tests confirmed that wood can produce measurable electrical signals when bent.
According to the researchers, wood offers several advantages over traditional materials. It is widely available, renewable, biodegradable, and has a natural internal structure that supports this electrical behavior.
The study also demonstrated that treated wood can be used to create flexible, self-powered sensors. These sensors can convert small movements — such as finger or wrist motion, or even muscle activity – into electrical signals without the need for an external power source.
Scientists say this discovery could lead to new uses of wood in wearable electronics, health monitoring systems, and other smart technologies. It may also help develop environmentally friendly alternatives for next-generation electronic devices.
The researchers believe that combining natural materials like wood with advanced engineering could play a key role in building sustainable and energy-efficient technologies in the future.
