Soon, smartphone whose batteries will die on you much later

A team of researchers has developed a new technology that could reduce energy consumption in mobile devices and computers.

The study conducted at the University of Texas at Dallas have created technology that could be the first step toward wearable computers with self-contained power sources or a smartphone that doesn't die after a few hours of heavy use.

Dr. Jiyoung Kim and Dr. Kyeongjae "K.J" Cho invented the new technology and found that by adding a specific atomic thin film layer to a transistor, the layer acted as a filter for the energy that passed through it at room temperature.

Kim, professor of materials science and engineering in the Jonsson School, said that the whole semiconductor industry was looking for steep devices because they were key to having small, powerful, mobile devices with many functions that operated quickly without spending a lot of battery power.

Cho, professor of materials science and engineering and physics, said that they devised a technique to cool the electrons internally that allowed reduction in operating voltage so that they could create even smaller, more power efficient devices.

The research showed that each time a device such as a smartphone or a tablet computes it required electrical power for operation. Reducing operating voltage would mean longer shelf lives for these products and others. Lower power devices could mean computers worn with or on top of clothing that would not require an outside power source, among other things.

The study is published online in Nature Communications.