Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, has inspired the creation of an innovative new low cost battery made of paper. Seokheun “Sean” Choi, an engineer at Binghamton University, developed a battery that generates power from microbial respiration, delivering enough energy to run a paper-based biosensor with nothing more than a drop of bacteria-containing liquid.
“Dirty water has a lot of organic matter,” Choi says. “Any type of organic material can be the source of bacteria for the bacterial metabolism.”
While paper-based biosensors have shown promise for use in remote areas, the existing technology must be paired with hand-held devices for analysis. Choi says he envisions a self-powered system in which a paper-based battery would create enough energy — we’re talking microwatts — to run the biosensor.
The battery, which folds into a square the size of a matchbook, uses an inexpensive air-breathing cathode created with nickel sprayed onto one side of ordinary office paper. The anode is screen printed with carbon paints, creating a hydrophilic zone with wax boundaries.
The total cost of this potentially game-changing device is five cents.
Click here for source (Binghamton University)
Photo: Binghamton University
