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John O | December 2016

Bacteria-powered battery built on a single sheet of paper


scientists at binghamton university in binghamton, n.y. have created a battery that is powered by bacteria and is as thin as a single sheet of paper that could be used to power disposable electronics, according to a report from the school’s website.

 

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binghamton researchers have discovered a means for papertronics. (binghamton university)

 

the article noted, “the manufacturing technique reduces fabrication time and cost, and the design could revolutionize the use of bio-batteries as a power source in remote, dangerous and resource-limited areas.”

 

the scientists placed a ribbon of silver nitrate that was under a thin layer of wax on half of a piece of chromatography paper, creating a cathode. using a conductive polymer, the researchers created a reservoir on the other half of the paper to act as an anode. folding the paper and adding drops of a bacteria-filled liquid, the battery was powered by the cellular respiration of the bacteria.

 

the scientists played with different folding and stacking techniques to try and improve the battery performance. “scientists were able to generate 31.51 microwatts at 125.53 microamps with six batteries in three parallel series and 44.85 microwatts at 105.89 microamps in a 6x6 configuration,” according to the report.

 

this is a far cry from the power required for a common lightbulb, for instance, but there is promise of this technology adding portability and usability for those in need. also, there is enough power to run biosensors and other biomedical applications.

 

"we are excited about this because microorganisms can harvest electrical power from any type of biodegradable source, like wastewater, that is readily available,” said assistant professor seokheun choi.  “i believe this type of paper biobattery can be a future power source for papertronics."

 

the research was recently published in advanced material technologies. according to the abstract:

 

“a stackable and 3d manufactured bacteria-powered battery is constructed within a single sheet of paper for on-chip, disposable paper-based electronics or ‘papertronics.’ the manufacturing technique on paper greatly reduces fabrication time and cost of the biobatteries and revolutionizes their potential use as a disposable power source in remote and resource-limited regions for self-powered papertronics.”

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