Researchers at Princeton fabricated nanoribbons using piezoelectric material lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and embedded them on to silicon rubber sheets to create the electricity generators.
Michael Alpine, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the US institution and leader of the programme, revealed that the use of PZT is important, since it is 100 times more effective than quartz at generating electrical energy.
He explained: "The new electricity-harvesting devices could be implanted in the body to perpetually power medical devices and the body wouldn't reject them."
The technology is able to do this because the silicon is biocompatible and is already used in cosmetic and medical devices.
Since the device is powered by pressure, scientists believe they can be placed against a person's lungs to harness the power of their breathing motion to create electricity.
In other nanotechnology news, the University of Nevada recently revealed that it is integrating the use of nanomaterials into the construction of skis.
