Paper-based battery powered by bacteria

In an effort to bring portable power sources to remote parts of the world, US researchers have developed a new type of battery — made of paper and fuelled by bacteria.

In regions with limited resources, everyday items like electrical outlets and batteries are luxuries. Healthcare workers in these areas often lack electricity to power diagnostic devices, and commercial batteries may be unavailable or too expensive. New power sources are therefore needed that are low cost and portable.

“Paper has unique advantages as a material for biosensors,” said Seokheun (Sean) Choi, PhD, who presented the work at the 256th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). “It is inexpensive, disposable, flexible and has a high surface area. However, sophisticated sensors require a power supply. Commercial batteries are too wasteful and expensive, and they can’t be integrated into paper substrates. The best solution is a paper-based bio-battery.”

Researchers have previously developed disposable paper-based biosensors for cheap and convenient diagnosis of diseases and health conditions, as well as for detecting contaminants in the environment. Many such devices rely on colour changes to report a result, but they often aren’t very sensitive — for this, they need a power supply. Choi wanted to develop an inexpensive paper battery powered by bacteria that could be easily incorporated into these single-use devices.

He and his colleagues at Binghamton University, the State University of New York made a paper battery by printing thin layers of metals and other materials onto a paper surface. Then, they placed freeze-dried ‘exoelectrogens’ on the paper. Exoelectrogens are a special type of bacteria that can transfer electrons outside of their cells. These electrons, which are generated when the bacteria make energy for themselves, pass through the cell membrane. They can then make contact with external electrodes and power the battery.

To activate the battery, the researchers added water or saliva. Within a couple of minutes, the liquid revived the bacteria, which produced enough electrons to power a light-emitting diode and a calculator.

The researchers also investigated how oxygen affects the performance of their device. Oxygen, which passes easily through paper, could soak up electrons produced by the bacteria before they reach the electrode. The team found that although oxygen slightly decreased power generation, the effect was minimal. This is because the bacterial cells were tightly attached to the paper fibres, which rapidly whisked the electrons away to the anode before oxygen could intervene.

The paper battery, which can be used once and then thrown away, currently has a shelf life of about four months. Choi is working on conditions to improve the survival and performance of the freeze-dried bacteria, enabling a longer shelf life.

“The power performance also needs to be improved by about 1000-fold for most practical applications,” Choi said. This could be achieved by stacking and connecting multiple paper batteries, he noted.

Choi has applied for a patent for the battery and is currently seeking industry partners for commercialisation.

Image caption: Researchers harnessed bacteria to power these paper batteries. Image credit: Seokheun Choi.