"What if we could develop electronic systems that surround bridges or cover entire highways or office walls, and bring electronic intelligence to everything around us?"

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Scientists have made a huge breakthrough, enabling them to convert radio signals into electrical energy.

This discovery could make cell phones and other devices that don’t use batteries and new ways of using smart technology possible.

American scientists have developed this device called a "rectenna" using semiconductors that are only a few atoms thick.

The Wi-Fi signal captured by the integrated antenna is converted into a DC current suitable for electronic circuits.

According to the US-led team, the device can be used to provide battery-free power for smartphones, laptops, medical equipment, and wearable technology.

Due to its flexibility, it can also be manufactured to cover a large area.

Scientists say this is of great significance to the future of "electronic intelligence."

Professor Tomas Palacios, director of the Center for Graphene Devices and 2D Systems at MIT and the Microsystems Technology Laboratory, said: “What if we can develop electronic systems that surround bridges or cover the entire highway or our walls? The office will Electronic intelligence brings everything around us? How do you provide energy for these electronic devices?

"We came up with a new way to power the electronic systems of the future-by collecting Wi-Fi energy in a way that is easy to integrate on a large area-to bring intelligence to every object around us."

In the experiment, when exposed to a typical Wi-Fi signal of approximately 150 microwatts, the rectenna generated approximately 40 microwatts of power.

This is enough to light up a simple mobile display or activate a silicon chip.

The research was published in the latest issue of the online journal Nature.

Professor Jesus Grajal, a co-author from the Technical University of Madrid, Spain, said that a key application may be in the field of medical implants and "pills", which transmit health data after being swallowed by a patient.

He added: "Ideally, you don't want to use batteries to power these systems, because if they leak lithium, the patient may die."

To make the rectenna, the team used a new two-dimensional material called molybdenum disulfide, which is three atoms thick and is one of the thinnest semiconductors in the world.

All antennas generate electricity, but usually a small amount.

For example, in a portable radio, the amplifier boosts the signal to allow the broadcast to be heard.

The amplifier needs a suitable power source, such as a battery.

Electricity obtained from radio waves comes in the form of high-frequency alternating current (AC).

In new equipment, semiconductors convert AC signals into more useful DC power.

Scientists are now planning more complex equipment to increase efficiency.

Supplementary report by the Press Association

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