In 2022, Professor Seokheum "Sean" Choi and a team of researchers from his Bioelectronics and Microsystems Laboratory shared in a research about the digestible biobattery activated by the Ph of the intestine.
Now, researchers from Birmingham University report in their press release a new way to power batteries using three different kinds of bacteria. They have incorporated the findings of their previous work into the new bacteria-powered biobattery.
Bacteria-powered Biobattery Could Work For 100 Years to Provide Portable, Storable, and On-demand Power
Plug-and-Play Bacteria-Powered Biobattery Choi has been developing biobatteries that generate energy using bacterial interaction for many years. Although this method has shown some promise, Choi and his team have been working to extend the lifespan of their battery.
They achieved this using a three-bacteria system, where each bacterium is placed in a separate chamber. As per their 2022 study published in the Journal of Power Sources, the photosynthetic bacteria generate organic food that the other bacterial cells use as nutrients, while the electricity-producing bacteria is located at the bottom, and the middle bacteria generate chemicals to improve electron transfer.
Choi's new biobatteries have also introduced a new assembly method, where they come in blocks of one square inch, similar to Lego bricks that can be easily combined and reconfigured. According to Interesting Engineering, these batteries are versatile and can be rearranged to deliver the necessary voltage and current depending on the device they will be used with.
Choi believes these batteries will be useful for the hundreds of small, smart, and standalone devices expected to be used globally in the coming decade, even in remote and harsh environments.
Portable, Storable, and On-Demand Power Storage
The newly developed microbial fuel cells could potentially function after 100 years, as per their study, titled "Moisture‐Enabled Germination of Heat‐Activated Bacillus Endospores for Rapid and Practical Bioelectricity Generation: Toward Portable, Storable Bacteria‐Powered Biobatteries" in the journal Small.
The container houses spore-forming bacteria akin to those found in ingestible gadgets, Phys.org reported. Based at New York's Binghamton University, the team sealed the dime-sized fuel cell with Kapton tape rated to withstand extreme temperatures, such as 750 degrees Fahrenheit, and removed it, allowing moisture in. The energy from the resulting bacterial reaction generated enough charge to power a digital thermometer, small clock, or LED.
However, the team said the ultimate goal is to generate a microbial fuel cell that can rapidly produce electricity from moisture in the air. It will also maintain biocatalytic activity over an extended period to be stored as a portable power source.
Following the incubation process, the microbial spores require heat activation, which can take up to an hour with humidity increasing power output. The team noted the battery had only suffered a 2% reduction in power generation within a week of room-temperature storage.
Choi said the team would continue to develop the technology to manufacture it commercially. "I think this is a good start," he said. "Hopefully, we can make a commercial product using these ideas."
RELATED ARTICLE: Bacteria Responsible for Tuberculosis Can Turn Air Into Electricity to Power Small Portable Devices
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