The power of glove: Soft microbial fuel cell for low-power electronics

Winfield, Jonathan; Chambers, Lily D.; Stinchcombe, Andrew; Rossiter, Jonathan; Ieropoulos, Ioannis

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.10.096

Cited by 50 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…23 In order to kick-start the energy harvesting board, an input of 60 mV at a resistance of 950 ohm was required. 23 In order to kick-start the energy harvesting board, an input of 60 mV at a resistance of 950 ohm was required.…”

Section: Energy Harvesting Power Management and Transceivermentioning

confidence: 99%

Urine-activated origami microbial fuel cells to signal proof of life

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The adaptability and practicality of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are highly desirable traits in the search for alternative sources of energy. An innovative application for the technology could be to power portable emergency locator transmitters (ELTs). Such devices would ideally need to be lightweight, robust and fast-in terms of response. Urine is an abundant resource, and with MFCs, could be the ideal fuel for powering ELTs, with the compelling advantage of also indicating proof of life. We developed novel origami tetrahedron MFCs (TP-MPFCs) using photocopier paper to test different urine-based inoculants.When inoculated with urine extracted from the anode chambers of working MFCs a stack of 6 abiotic MFCs produced a usable working voltage after just 3 h 15 min; enough to energise a power management system. The anodes of established TP-MFCs were then removed and air-dried for 7 days before being inserted into new paper reactors and refrigerated. After 4 weeks, these MFCs displayed an immediate response to fresh urine and achieved a functional working voltage in just 35 minutes. Two paper MFCs connected in parallel were able to transmit 85 radio signals and in a series configuration 238 broadcasts over 24 hours. These findings demonstrate that simple, inexpensive, lightweight paper MFCs can be employed as urine-activated, "proof of life" reporting systems.

show abstract

Section: Energy Harvesting Power Management and Transceivermentioning

confidence: 99%

Urine-activated origami microbial fuel cells to signal proof of life

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A conductive latex cathode was used to maintain a continuous redox reaction without the need to hydrate the cathode electrode. A polyurethane-based rubber coating (Plasti-Dip, Petersfield UK) was mixed with white spirit and micronised graphite powder in the mass ratio 2:3:1, using a method derived from [29] and painted onto the air side of the membrane. The MFC is configured with an electrical load connecting the anode and cathode electrodes.…”

Section: Energy Cycle Of the Foraging Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward Energetically Autonomous Foraging Soft Robots

et al. 2016

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. October 6, 2016Abstract A significant goal of robotics is to develop autonomous machines, capable of independent and collective operation free from human assistance. To operate with complete autonomy robots must be capable of independent movement and total energy self-sufficiency. We present the design of a soft robotic mouth and artificial stomach for aquatic robots that will allow them to feed on biomatter in their surrounding environment. The robot is powered by electrical energy generated through bacterial respiration within a microbial fuel cell (MFC) stomach, and harvested using state-of-the-art voltage step-up electronics. Through innovative exploitation of compliant, biomimetic actuation, the soft robotic feeding mechanism enables the connection of multiple MFC stomachs in series configuration in an aquatic environment, previously a significant challenge. We investigate how a similar soft robotic feeding mechanism could be driven by electroactive polymer artificial muscles from the same bioenergy supply. This work demonstrates the potential for energetically autonomous soft robotic artificial organisms and sets the stage for radically different future robots.

show abstract

“…[17] In the current study, a more rigid structure was required to better configure the reactors into uniform stacks, and for this reason PLA frames were designed and printed. In addition to the production of a more robust structure, the new MFCs with PLA frames generated almost double the power output compared to the soft "finger of glove" MFCs (data not shown).…”

Section: Pla Framesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fade to Green: A Biodegradable Stack of Microbial Fuel Cells

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The focus of this study is the development of biodegradable microbial fuel cells (MFCs) able to produce useful power. Reactors with an 8 mL chamber volume were designed using all biodegradable products: polylactic acid for the frames, natural rubber as the cation‐exchange membrane and egg‐based, open‐to‐air cathodes coated with a lanolin gas diffusion layer. Forty MFCs were operated in various configurations. When fed with urine, the biodegradable stack was able to power appliances and was still operational after six months. One useful application for this truly sustainable MFC technology includes onboard power supplies for biodegradable robotic systems. After operation in remote ecological locations, these could degrade harmlessly into the surroundings to leave no trace when the mission is complete.

show abstract

The power of glove: Soft microbial fuel cell for low-power electronics

Cited by 50 publications

References 20 publications

Urine-activated origami microbial fuel cells to signal proof of life

Urine-activated origami microbial fuel cells to signal proof of life

Toward Energetically Autonomous Foraging Soft Robots

Fade to Green: A Biodegradable Stack of Microbial Fuel Cells

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About