Led by Pengfei Chen, a postdoctoral scholar in materials science and engineering at UW–Madison, the research appears in the Aug. 19, 2026, issue of the journal Science Advances.

“For a device like this, it’s not just about producing energy. Power density is the most important part. You need to get enough power in a small enough volume,” said Xudong Wang, a professor of materials science and engineering who oversees Chen’s research. “With our technology, we achieved a power output density an order of magnitude higher than previous nanogenerators.”

The project isn’t just a theoretical exercise. Devices powered by these nanogenerators could have a lasting impact on a patient’s well-being. “This technology shows incredible promise. One of the clinical challenges in managing patients with pacemakers is the need for generator replacement procedures when the battery depletes, which involves reoperation to replace it,” said Dr. Daniel Modaff, a cardiac electrophysiologist at UW Hospital and Clinics and co-author of the paper. “I look forward to a world in which we can implant a single device that will last a patient’s lifetime, and this is a big step closer to realizing this dream.”