Siores describes how the hybrid fibre is made up of two parts.
The core is made out of piezoelectric material, which comes from
the Greek word, meaning applying pressure. When pressure is
applied, or the material is vibrated, the vibrations are
converted into voltage that can be stored as energy in a
rechargeable battery or used immediately. The outer coatings are
an organic photovoltaic material. The core is made from of
polymer material, avoiding the more efficient but lead-
containing ceramic material, and the production costs are low.
Also, as they are in a fibre format they can be made in
different diameters, and can be weaved, knitted and processed
like any other fibre into textile structures. Siores is excited
about the possibilities, ‘the fibre can be used for wearable
applications, for charging mobiles while on the move. For more
power hungry applications, these fibres can be chopped into a
needle size. For example, a pine tree structure, made with these
hybrid fibres. The tree structure does not have