New Battery is Activated by Your Spit
August 10, 2017 | Binghamton UniversityEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York, have developed the next step in microbial fuel cells (MFCs): a battery activated by spit that can be used in extreme conditions where normal batteries don’t function.
For the last five years, Binghamton University Electrical and Computer Science Assistant Professor Seokheun Choi has focused on developing micro-power sources for use in resource-limited regions to power point-of-care (POC) diagnostic biosensors; he has created several paper-based bacteria-powered batteries.
“On-demand micro-power generation is required especially for point-of-care diagnostic applications in developing countries,” said Choi. “Typically, those applications require only several tens of microwatt-level power for several minutes, but commercial batteries or other energy harvesting technologies are too expensive and over-qualified. Also, they pose environmental pollution issues.”
Choi, along with research assistant Maedeh Mohammadifar, created a high-performance, paper-based, bacteria-powered battery by building microbial fuel cells with inactive, freeze-dried exoelectrogenic cells that generates power within minutes of adding saliva. The proposed battery generated reliable power with one drop of saliva, supplying on-board power that could be used by the next generation of disposable, paper-based POC diagnostic platforms.
“The proposed battery has competitive advantages over other conventional power solutions because the biological fluid for on-demand battery activation is readily available even in the most resource-constrained settings, and the freeze-drying technology enables long-term storage of cells without degradation or denaturation,” wrote the researchers.
Choi is focused on improving the battery’s power density so that more applications can be powered.
“Now, our power density is about a few microwatts per centimeter square. Although 16 microbial fuel cells connected in a series on a single sheet of paper generated desired values of electrical current and voltage to power a light-emitting diode (LED), further power improvement is required for other electronic applications demanding hundreds of milliwatts of energy,” said Choi.
The paper, “A Papertronic, On-Demand and Disposable Biobattery: Saliva-Activated Electricity Generation from Lyophilized Exoelectrogens Preinoculated on Paper,” was published in Advanced Materials Technologies.
Suggested Items
indie Semiconductor Launches Advanced Smart Connectivity Solutions for In-Cabin Applications
04/23/2024 | indie Semiconductorindie Semiconductor, Inc., an Autotech solutions innovator, has introduced a family of new high-performance video converters and retimers to enable in-cabin connectivity applications, including audio and video transport and device interfacing.
IDTechEx Discusses the Role of Printed Sensors in Mass-Digitization
04/11/2024 | PRNewswireIntegrated sensors digitizing physical interactions are vital in everyday life. From personalized user experiences to warehouse inventory management, data-driven insights are driving demand for smarter sensors — and lots of them.
MKS Introduces ESI Geode G2 CO2 Laser System for High- Precision and High-Speed HDI and mSap Via Drilling
04/09/2024 | MKS Instruments, Inc.MKS Instruments, Inc., a global provider of technologies that transform our world, today announced the official launch of the ESI Geode™ G2 laser drill system, the next generation of the Geode™ platform for processing PCB and ICP materials.
DuPont Unveils Pyralux ML Laminate Series, Offering High Thermal Management for Extreme Environments
04/09/2024 | DuPontDuPont introduced the DuPont™ Pyralux® ML Series of double-sided metal-clad laminates, a unique addition to its extensive family of Pyralux® laminates for flexible and rigid-flex printed circuit boards (PCBs).
A Closer Look at Professional Development at IPC APEX EXPO 2024: 3D Printing and AI
04/09/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamWhile the finishing touches were being made to the show floor at IPC APEX EXPO, just as much activity was happening in the conference rooms of the Anaheim Convention Center on the days before the show officially opened. The hallways and classrooms were filled for standards committee development meetings and Professional Development Courses, and IPC hosted evening receptions for Emerging Engineers, ECWC, and those who are attending for the first time in a special “newcomers” event.