Zurich: As electronic waste increasingly burdens the world, where discarded batteries leak toxic chemicals into the soil and waterways, a team of Swiss researchers is turning to an unlikely ally in the quest for sustainability: fungi.
According to Anadolu Agency, researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) have created a 'fungal bio-battery' that could pave the way for eco-friendly energy solutions for low-power electronics. Gustav Nystrom, head of the cellulose and wood materials lab at Empa, and his team have been working on this microbial fuel cell for three years, focusing on the use of sustainable and biodegradable materials. Their goal is to rethink ways to fuel low-power electronics, particularly those designed for environmental monitoring or scenarios where devices might not be fully recycled.
Unlike traditional batteries, the fungal bio-battery relies on living microorganisms. According to Nystrom, when fungi digest organic materials, they generate energy in the form of electrons, which are harvested to produce electricity. Nystrom emphasized that the innovation required overcoming significant challenges. The fungi must remain alive in a dense gel system suitable for 3D printing, withstand the printing process, and thrive in an environment engineered to conduct electricity using carbon particles.
The process was 'complex,' and creating a 3D-printable living battery is 'actually a big challenge and not trivial to succeed with,' Nystrom said. He explained that while these sustainable energy storage devices are not meant to replace traditional batteries, they offer a method to use energy from such devices and incorporate it with sensing systems. The team envisions 3D printing the entire bio-battery device in the future, allowing for customizable designs tailored to specific applications.
Despite being in its experimental phase, the fungal bio-battery shows promise for various applications, particularly in environmental and agricultural sensing, wearable technology, and disposable diagnostic kits, which require low-power energy sources that can be safely left in the environment. A key focus of the project was the use of biodegradable materials, driven by the team's commitment to minimizing electronic waste.
Nystrom noted that while the research is ongoing, the scalability and potential cost-effectiveness of bio-batteries offer hope for future commercialization. He believes the approach contributes to addressing the growing problem of electronic waste. However, he acknowledged that it is too early to make any firm statements regarding the commercial viability and production methods of the bio-batteries.