Learn about bio-batteries - Green energy sources in the future

Biological batteries using organic energy sources will replace batteries that contain toxic substances in the near future.

What is bio-battery?

The biological battery is an instrument that produces electricity using energy sources such as carbonhydrats, amino acids, and fats with enzymes.

Today batteries have become an essential part of everyday life, present in many different gadgets. One problem with any battery, however, is the battery life. The battery may run out suddenly or even overheat and explode. Efforts to extend battery life and battery capacity make battery size increase and become more cumbersome. Besides, the current batteries often contain many substances harmful to humans and the natural environment. Therefore the development of bio-batteries powered by human blood, sweat and other organic compounds is being developed.

Blood can be used to power

A group of scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute said they have created a super-thin, bendable battery, using electrolytes present in human body fluids to generate energy. Their research was published in the publication of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on August 13, 2007, which received great attention from the community. The team confirmed that their new bio-batteries could be powered by body fluids and other organic compounds (even from tears or urine).

The linked carbon nanotubes make up the remaining 10%, giving the battery a conductive capacity and being black.

At least 90% of the battery is made of cellulose, the material that makes up different paper products, so the battery is very thin. The linked carbon nanotubes make up the remaining 10%, giving the battery a conductive capacity and being black . This 'paper pin' has nanotubes that are engraved into each paper thread so the battery is also called nanocomposite paper . The battery uses nanotechnology so it has small size and high flexibility. Moreover, the battery is supplemented with energy from the electrolyte source. When using batteries outside the human body, scientists immerse the paper battery in an ionic liquid (liquid salt), which acts as an electrolyte.

Paper construction makes this battery stand out with its flexural ability. The RPI team believes that in the future, batteries will be printed in long plates, which can then be cut into small batteries to suit their needs. Some battery strips can be assembled to power medical implants, such as pacemakers, artificial hearts. The battery can be used under the skin without causing any discomfort.

Because ionic liquids are used not to freeze or evaporate like water, batteries can be used in temperature environments: from -100 degrees F to 300 degrees F. Wide operating temperature spectrum and weight Lightweight makes this product extremely suitable for use in aircraft and transport vehicles. The researchers are also confident about their unique device because the battery also has the simultaneous function of high-capacity batteries and super-large capacitors. This supercapacitor can release large amounts of energy quickly, opening up the possibility of a wide range of applications in the consumer electronics industry. According to scientists, their bio-batteries are rated as environmentally friendly because they do not use chemicals and are mainly cellulose. With so many advantages, but since it was first published in the summer of 2007, the product is still in the experimental phase because according to RPI team, they are still trying to improve. battery performance and to find the best production method.

Using bio-batteries is safe and non-toxic to humans and the environment.

Other biological batteries

Not only scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic are interested in bio-batteries. Many other companies, universities and research institutions are competing to produce such built-in batteries that run on energy from organic compounds, especially human body fluids. Researchers consider sugar and glucose in human blood to be a valuable source of energy because they are completely natural, can be accessed very easily and do not create harmful emissions.

In 2003, Japanese researchers at Panasonic's Nanotechnology Research Laboratory issued a press release about the experimental work to extract energy from blood glucose . At that time, they used enzymes - a catalyst component that was frequently present in biological batteries to take electrons from glucose. Two years later, another Japanese research group from Tohoku University, announced that they had succeeded in creating "biofuel batteries ." Their batteries could be used to power medical devices. small size, such as transplants to measure blood sugar levels in diabetics - Like RPI's nanocomposite paper, future versions of this technology may be used to power artificial hearts use of continuous blood flow through this artificial implant.

In August 2005, scientists in Singapore developed a battery that uses human urine to generate electricity. Although it may sound weird, this battery is capable of being widely applied. Researchers say their device is about the size of a credit card and can make a disposable test kit with a very reasonable price to quickly diagnose cancer or hepatitis. What makes devices especially useful is that it integrates batteries and test equipment onto a single-use chip. One of the researchers involved in the project said that the battery could also be used for fast charging for other electronic devices. For example, in the case of an out-of-battery climber, you can use this battery to make an emergency rescue call.

In August 2007, Sony giant announced that it had successfully built a battery powered by sugar . This battery can get energy from glucose or sports drinks. But more strangely, a Korean research group produced one of the most bizarre biological devices in September 2007. They created a micro-robot that looked like tiny crabs from It is the living tissue itself, by taking tissue extracted from the rat heart and growing on tiny bones. These heart cells will then contract for more than 10 days, allowing the robot to move up to 50 meters. With the appropriate improvement, these microrobots can be used to break down the arteries in the arteries.

Bio batteries are replacing nickel-cadmium batteries, traditional lithium-ion batteries.

There have been many advances in the field of bio-batteries in the past, but it will take many years for this battery to replace nickel-cadmium batteries, traditional lithium-ion batteries. However, with its small size, versatility, long time use and environmental friendliness, bio-batteries will help create many excellent applications in the medical field. So scientists seem to have constantly found every possible way to use it in bio-battery technology. There was a research team who even thought of batteries running with gin and vodka.