The full research can befoundin the Advanced Science journal.
This innovation allows the researchers to eliminate the need for rare earth metals.
To demonstrate the technology, the researchers integrated the conductive threads into a fabric swatch and a button.
The threads have also shown stable performance in lab tests for over a year.
Of course, significant challenges remain before we can reliably power devices with high-tech threads.
Craighero notes that developing automated manufacturing processes will be essential for making wearable power generation commercially viable.
Furthermore, six millivolts is still modest, limiting current applications to low-power devices like thermocouples and piezoelectric sensors.
Even with voltage boosts, a considerable temperature differential would be needed to generate meaningful current.
The demonstrated 30 degree Celsius gap, for example, is quite wide, though the scientists remain optimistic.
This is an important step forward.
