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https://bgr.com/science/meet-the-new-fungus-battery-that-needs-to-be-fed-instead-of-charged/>
"In a groundbreaking step toward sustainable technology, scientists in
Switzerland have developed a fungus battery. It’s a fully biodegradable, living
power source made almost entirely of natural materials. Instead of recharging
it with electricity, you give it nutrients and water. And it works.
By 2030, the world is expected to generate 75 million metric tons of electronic
waste. Most batteries today contain toxic metals and synthetic components,
which are difficult to recycle and harmful to the environment. That’s why
researchers at Empa, Switzerland’s materials science institute, turned to fungi
as an alternative power source.
Their innovation is not just clever; it’s also potentially transformative. This
new fungus battery is compostable, non-toxic, and made from cellulose, beeswax,
and yeast. The design uses two species of fungi:
Saccharomyces cerevisiae (a
type of yeast) and
Trametes pubescens (a white-rot fungus). Inside the
battery’s anode, the yeast breaks down sugar and releases electrons.
These electrons travel to the cathode, where enzymes from the white-rot fungus
help complete the circuit and generate an electric current. What’s more, the
battery is literally grown using 3D-printed ink made from cellulose, carbon
materials, and the fungal cells themselves.
The fungi develop directly inside the structure, sustained by nutrients
embedded in the material. After printing, the battery takes just a few weeks to
become fully functional.
A single fungus battery generates between 300 and 600 millivolts and can run
continuously for several days. When four of them are linked, they can power
small devices like environmental sensors for up to 65 hours.
Because they can be stored dry and only need to be activated with water and
nutrients, they’re ideal for use in remote areas, agriculture, or medical
applications where traditional batteries fall short."
Via Rhysy and Susan ****
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
