The new battery works with ... saliva

This newly developed battery can be used in harsh conditions where normal batteries do not work.

Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York, have taken a new step in the field of microbial fuel cell (MFCs): Salivary activated batteries , which can be used in carving conditions. Harsh battery that normally does not work.

Over the past five years, associate professor Seokheun Choi of the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Science at Binghamton University has researched and developed several types of paper batteries that use microbes to generate energy .

Slim, economical and environmentally friendly - (Photo: Binghamton University).

"Demand for mini-power is essential, especially for on-site diagnostic applications in developing countries.

Typically, these applications only require microwatt-level power to run for a few minutes. However, commercial batteries or other energy technologies are too expensive and unqualified, not to mention environmental pollution, " said Seokheun Choi.

He and his research assistant, Maedeh Mohammadifar, have created a high-performance bio-fuel cell from paper, by building microbial fuel cells containing inactive, freeze-dried cells. The electrical transfer to the outer shell of the cell, called exoelectrogenic .

Exoelectrogenic cells are capable of generating electricity for several minutes after being wetted with saliva.

Choi Seokheun Choi - Photo: Binghamton University.

According to the researchers, this type of battery has a competitive advantage over other conventional power solutions because the biological liquid required for battery activation is readily available, even in the most resource-constrained environments. .

Power density currently reached only a few microwatts / ^cm2 but if connecting 16 fuel cell micro together on a piece of paper, it will provide enough energy to light up an LED, so just improvements Power generation will produce hundreds of milliwatts of energy.

Currently, Choi and his team are focusing on improving the energy efficiency of the battery before putting it into use in life.