KUALA LUMPUR: Enhance Track Sdn Bhd, one of NanoMalaysia Bhd's (NMB) technology partners in driving the commercialisation of nanotechnology, has completed a working prototype of a radio frequency (RF) wireless mobile phone charger.
Known as Malaysian Energy Transmission Technology (METT), it allows remote contactless non-inductive charging over a range of a few metres and has the ability to power 5V-based mobile devices, eliminating the need for messy power cords and battery replacements.
To put it simply, with this system in place, one could walk into any zone with wifi and their phone would automatically charge.
"Everyone today has a cellular phone and whether for business or personal purposes, they need an efficient way of charging their devices without being tethered to a wall.
"Now, there is a system where you will have true wireless cellular phone charging that can provide you with pure mobility and the market demand has been incredible," Enhance Track managing director Benedict Foo said in a statement today.
He said the technology was developed under the National Graphene Action Plan (NGAP) of NMB, which focuses on developing graphene-based technology by collaborating with Malaysian industries and universities.
Last year, NanoMalaysia chief executive officer Dr Rezal Khairi Ahmad shared at the NanoSummit Malaysia Conference and Expo that the focus of NGAP 2019 would be on a wireless charging system and radio-frequency identification (RFID).
He said product would be an important milestone in the commercialisation of nanotechnology.
"NanoMalaysia had pre-identified a remote wireless charger as one of few near-term game changers. Using our unique venture-builder model, the technology was co-ideated and developed with Enhance Track via product development and scale-up projects funding," said Dr Rezal Khairi.
He said pushing the product to the market will be done on a smart partnership basis connecting with commercial up-takers.
"The wireless charger, with wide potential applications in the digital economy sector, is an excellent success story for the country's nanotechnology commercialisation agenda thus, providing a launching pad for other relevant nanotechnology solutions aligning to Malaysia's 4th Industrial Revolution aspirations," he added.
Currently, METT is undergoing final optimisation and improvement before it is expected to penetrate the market by mid-2021.
The company said the product is expected to generate a revenue of close to RM1.9 billion and create up to 2,800 job opportunities, driving home the importance of the role nanotechnology has to play in not just providing solutions to everyday problems, but in stimulating the economy as well moving forward.