A research team led by Professor Jyh-Ming Wu of the
Department of Materials Science and Engineering at National Tsing
Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan has recently developed two
composite piezoelectric materials extracted from common waste
products. One is a new type of catalyst extracted from discarded
rice husks and is capable of treating industrial wastewater 90
times quicker than the photocatalysts now in use. The other is a
material extracted from discarded squid bones and has been used to
produce a self-sanitizing transparent film suitable for use as a
cover on mobile phone screens, elevator buttons, door handles,
etc.
