Nanotechnology could bring us a whole new “power suit”

Thanks to the work of some scientists and ­engineers, we may soon see literal “power suits” in fashion departments. Clothing, shoes, and other wearable devices could collect energy from movement—such as walking, running, or biking—allowing us to charge sensors, lights, smartphones, and even medical implants simply from our daily activity. Think of it as fashion for the fidgety.

The technology used to harvest this energy is based on two well-known phenomenon: piezoelectricity and the triboelectric . . .