Nanowires

Posted on October 18, 2007 at 7:34 am (PST)

According to Harvard University, tiny gizmos of the future could be powered via a "silicon nanowire that can convert light into electrical energy."

The cable itself looks like what we a re used to seeing, but it is 100,000 times smaller, and made of silicon with three different types of conductivity arranged as layered shells.

This "silicon nanowire" can convert light into electrical energy and while almost invisible to the naked eye, a single strand can crank out up to 200 picowatts.