New batteries for babies

A team of engineers in the US says they have succeeded in producing safe batteries for children , thanks to a special coating that does no harm in the case of baby swallowing.

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Insulators play a very important role as children swallow the battery, a chemical reaction that can cause esophageal burns. In particular, the child's larynx and trachea can be damaged, even if the battery is removed later. In the United States alone, more than 3,000 people swallow batteries each year.

For safety, Dr Jeff Karp and his colleagues have researched and produced a new battery, in which the battery's cathode is coated with a 1mm thick layer of material called QTC , mainly composed of silicon and metal particles. the tiny kind used in the touch screen. When compressed, the metal particles come together and conduct electricity. In other words, the battery only works when there is compression. In addition to the surface covered with QTC, the corner of the battery is covered with a glue that creates the waterproofing properties for the new battery.

In tests conducted with colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Dr. Karp said the new battery remained intact despite being immersed in a gastric fluid simulator for 24 hours. While in the same experiment, conventional batteries showed short-circuiting and heavy leakage. Currently, Dr Karp and his team have filed a patent for a new battery design and discussed with a number of manufacturers hoping to get it into action soon.