New York, Dec 8 (PTI) Scientists have developed anentirely textile-based, bacteria-powered battery that couldpave the way for smart clothes and could be integrated intoflexible wearable electronics.
Researchers from Binghamton University in the US createdan entirely textile-based biobattery that can produce maximumpower similar to that produced by their previous paper-basedmicrobial fuel cells.
The biobatteries exhibit stable electricity-generatingcapability when tested under repeated stretching and twistingcycles, researchers said.
This stretchable, twistable power device could establisha standardised platform for textile-based biobatteries andwill be potentially integrated into wearable electronics inthe future, said Seokheun Choi, assistant professor atBinghamton University.
"There is a clear and pressing need for flexible andstretchable electronics that can be easily integrated with awide range of surroundings to collect real-time information,"said Choi, who led the study published in the journal AdvancedEnergy Materials.
"Those electronics must perform reliably even whileintimately used on substrates with complex and curvilinearshapes, like moving body parts or organs," said Choi.
"We considered a flexible, stretchable, miniaturisedbiobattery as a truly useful energy technology because oftheir sustainable, renewable and eco-friendly capabilities,"he said.
Compared to traditional batteries and other enzymaticfuel cells, microbial fuel cells can be the most suitablepower source for wearable electronics because the wholemicrobial cells as a biocatalyst provide stable enzymaticreactions and a long lifetime, said Choi.
Sweat generated from the human body can be a potentialfuel to support bacterial viability, providing the long-termoperation of the microbial fuel cells.
"If we consider that humans possess more bacterial cellsthan human cells in their bodies, the direct use of bacterialcells as a power resource interdependently with the human bodyis conceivable for wearable electronics," said Choi. PTI MHNSARMHN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.