Yeah, scientists found a way to store electricity in cotton. Researchers at the University of South Carolina treated a plain old discount store t-shirt (using science) to give it the capacity to act as a capacitor. Xiaodong Li, the professor running the project, called it "flexible energy storage" (Science Pun!). The treatment process doesn't even seem that difficult. I don't say this to diminish their discovery, but to point out that it seems really likely to have cost effective real-world applications. All you have to do is preheat your oxygen-free oven to a high temperature, soak the shirt in a fluoride solution, dry the shirt, and throw it in the oven (presumably you can tell when it's done using a voltmeter).
That process converts the fibers (or fibres in the BBC article I read) from cellulose to activated carbon. Activated carbon can, if some small bits are made into an electrode, act as a capacitor. Technically speaking, a capacitor is a thingy that stores up energy, yet is not quite the same thing as a battery. Batteries store more energy, but capacitors can release energy at a higher voltage. You can't shock yourself with a AA battery (which puts out about 1.5 volts), but a capacitor hooked to the same battery can put out 300 volts. Some capacitors are strictly used for storage, like the ones in electronic devices that keep them from failing while you charge the batteries. Xiaodong Li predicts that we could use our t-shirt capacitors in a similar fashion to charge phones, iPads, and stuff like that. I've got some more exciting uses in mind.
Does anyone remember that YouTube video some kid got in trouble (possibly with homeland security) for making? In it, he demonstrated how to make a TASER out of a disposable camera. Disposable cameras have a capacitor (used for the flash), and can be modified to deliver a shock (300 volts or so, as previously mentioned). Immediately upon seeing this, I decided to figure out how to make it more badass (and unsafe). My idea was to pull a capacitor from either an amplifier or the flash from a much larger camera (thus we're talking more voltage). Then I immediately decided to attach the electrodes to a glove, power fist-style (that's a badass weapon from the badass game series Fallout).
Shortly thereafter, I decided that since I never punch anyone, it would be pointless. Instead, I came up with a plan to create "shock armor." Basically I'd just run tiny exposed wires in a loose mesh pattern across a coat (a leather jacket ought to be an adequate insulator), ensuring that they don't actually touch at the points where they cross. Thus, when activated, anyone coming into contact with two wires would get a satisfying zap. With a capacitor t-shirt this would be even easier (and I wouldn't have to lug a traditional capacitor around in my pocket.) Since portions can be turned into electrodes, you could turn many small portions into electrodes (meaning it doesn't end up looking like a leather jacket wrapped in wire).
Such a device could have a wide array of applications. It would greatly enhance the user's ability to order drinks in a crowded bar. They would always be at the front of the pit during concerts, and people reaching around to tap their left shoulder while standing to their right would learn a valuable lesson. Mass transit would be a breeze, and if the shirt was long enough, the user would never have to worry about pickpockets. It also has the potential to make football a whole lot more exciting (obviously you'd only have a limited supply of juice for each player, depending on their position). This new and awesome technology allows all of this...and if you want, I guess you can just use it to charge your phone.
The research is published in Advanced Materials.
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