A Papertronic, On‐Demand and Disposable Biobattery: Saliva‐Activated Electricity Generation from Lyophilized Exoelectrogens Preinoculated on Paper

2018

Batteries

Self Cite

Abstract:We use origami to create a compact, scalable three-dimensional (3-D) biobattery stack that delivers on-demand energy to the portable biosensors. Folding allows a two-dimensional (2-D) paper sheet possessing predefined functional components to form nine 3-D microbial fuel cells (MFCs), and connect them serially within a small and single unit (5.6 cm × 5.6 cm). We load the biocatalyst Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 in predefined areas that form the MFCs, and freeze-dry them for long-term storage. The biobattery stack generates a maximum power and current of 20 µW and 25 µA, respectively, via microbial metabolism when the freeze-dried cells are rehydrated with readily available wastewater. This work establishes an innovative strategy to revolutionize the fabrication, storage, operation, and application of paper-based MFCs, which could potentially make energy available even in resource-limited settings.

Section: Conductive and Hydrophilic Anodic Chambersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

On-Demand Micro-Power Generation from an Origami-Inspired Paper Biobattery Stack

Mohammadifar

2018

Batteries

Self Cite

Merging Electric Bacteria with Paper

Gao

Adv Materials Technologies

2018

Self Cite

other electronic components. [18,19] Revolutionary combinations of synthetic materials and paper allow the development of unconventional electronics, which cannot be built with traditional semiconductor technology. While the combinations are revolutionary, these materials can be blended with paper by using mature manufacturing processes, such as roll-to-roll printing, soaking, coating, screen-printing, and dipping. [8,12,[20][21][22] Many functional inks, [23] synthetic polymers, [24] metals, [25] semiconductors, [26] insulators, [27] and nanoparticles [28] have integrated into the paper. The combinations can make paper conductive, biocompatible, biodegradable, smooth, and protective by filling the pores, covering the fibers, and laminating the surface. [6,29,30] Other biological materials such as enzymes, proteins, and DNAs, have also been used to functionalize the paper. [31][32][33] Recently, electric bacteria (exoelectrogens) that are capable of harvesting electrons have been innovatively merged with paper to power on-chip paper devices (Figure 1). [34][35][36] These electric bacteria use respiration to convert biochemical energy stored in organic matter into biological energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), where this process involves a cascade of reactions through a system of electron-carrier biomolecules in which electrons are transferred to the terminal electron acceptor, an anode. [37] During the bacterial respiration, protons are also generated, which diffuse through a selective ion exchange membrane and reach a cathode. Those electrons and protons are reduced to water in the presence of catholyte (e.g., oxygen) at the cathode. Paper-based batteries or energy storage devices have been considered as an indispensable component in creating selfsustainable and independent papertronics. [38][39][40] Paper-based solar cells, [41] supercapacitors, [28] nanogenerators, [42] thermoelectrics, [21] and chemical fuel cells [43] have been widely studied as potential energy sources in various applications. Incorporating electric bacteria into paper can offer a simple but powerful energy source for papertronics especially in remote and resource-limited settings as the bacteria can inhabit any environment even those with extreme conditions. [44] Furthermore, the device can be compact, affordable, and easily integrated into a simple structure's design in a cost-effective and eco-friendly manner. The paper's high roughness and porosity can be advantageous for bacterial accommodation and mass transfer relative to the bacterial energy harvesting while its hydrophilicity easily absorbs bacterial media and holds it for Paper-based electronics (papertronics) are recently considered as one of the most exciting device platforms because of their flexibility, sustainability, ecofriendliness, and low cost as well as their excellent mechanical, dielectrical, and fluidic properties. Now, innovative structure engineering techniques can manipulate diameters of the cellulose fibers of paper, smoothing the roughness and controlling the t...

From Microbial Fuel Cells to Biobatteries: Moving toward On‐Demand Micropower Generation for Small‐Scale Single‐Use Applications

Gao

Mohammadifar

Adv Materials Technologies

2019

Self Cite

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that generate electricity generation from a broad diversity of biomass and organic substrates through microbial metabolism, have attracted considerable research interest as an alternative clean energy technology and energy-efficient wastewater treatment method. Despite encouraging successes and auspicious pilot-scale experiments of the MFCs, increasing doubts about their viability for practical large-scale applications are being raised. Low performance, expensive core parts and materials, energy-intensive operation, and scaling bottlenecks question a sustainable development. Instead, special MFCs for low-power battery-reliant devices might be more applicable and potentially realizable. Such bacteria-powered biobatteries would enable (i) a truly stand-alone device platform suitable for use in resource-limited and remote regions, (ii) simple, on-demand power generation within a programmed period of time, and (iii) a tracelessly biodegradable battery due to the use of the bacteria used for power generation. The biobattery would be an excellent power solution for small-scale, on-demand, single-use, and disposable electronics. Recent progress of small-scale MFCbased biobatteries is critically reviewed with specific attention toward various device platforms. Furthermore, comments and outlook related to the potential directions and challenges of the biobatteries are discussed to offer inspiration to the community and induce fruitful future research. pack. A) Reproduced with permission.