American engineers have developed a multi-layered bio-battery containing three distinct species of bacteria that absorb sunlight and produce electricity.
A bacteria-based battery
Diversifying our energy sources is a key element in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, and one interesting possibility is to exploit the ability of certain bacteria to generate electricity. Unfortunately, the batteries based on this approach generally have a limited lifespan.
In the context of works published in the Journal of Power Sources, Seokheun Choi and his colleagues from thebinghamton university managed to create a much more durable bio-batteryby combining several complementary bacterial species.
Their cell has three layers. The first houses photosynthetic bacteria drawing their energy from the light of the Sun and producing organic molecules which nourish those of the lower layers. The bacteria in the third will generate electricity by consuming these nutrients, aided by certain chemical substances produced by the microorganisms in the middle layer.
Electricity for weeks
Experiences involving versions of these bio-batteries measuring 3 cm² have shown that they could produce electricity for weeks. Therefore, the study authors believe that they could be used to power sensors or small electronic devices in remote areas, without human supervision.
The current version of the bio-battery does not produce a huge amount of electricity, but the team says the output could be increased by adding more cells. Choi explained that the next step would be to make the cell able to float on water and self-regenerate if damaged.
A few weeks ago, a team from thecambridge university had for its part unveiled a promising algae-based generator. Turning out to be no bigger than an AA battery, it had been able to power a small computer for six months.
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