Microbial Fuel Cells

A rendering of villi in the intestinal walls – the inspiration for the biobattery

Energy

Intestine-inspired bacterial biobattery creates 8 times the power

The small intestine has several functions, including chemical digestion, immune defense, and now, apparently, inspiring better battery designs. Researchers have copied the shape and material of villi to create more productive microbial fuel cells.

New biobatteries contain three layers of distinct bacteria, each with their own job to do in producing electricity

Energy

Triple-layer bacterial biobattery produces electricity for weeks

Electricity-producing bacteria could be an intriguing renewable energy source. Engineers have now developed a biobattery that contains three layers of different bacteria species, which together take in sunlight and produce electricity.

An artist's impression of silver nanoparticles connecting through a bacterial membrane, which has now helped improve the efficiency of microbial fuel cells

Energy

Silver-infused bacteria build more efficient microbial fuel cells

Microbial fuel cells are a promising new way to generate electricity, but so far they’re plagued by inefficiency. Researchers at UCLA have now found a way to wring more energy out of them, by feeding the bacteria silver to make them more conductive.

The twistable, stretchable textile-based battery developed at Binghamton University uses the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a catalyst

Electronics

Stretchable fabric battery could power wearables with sweat

The bacteria-powered batteries of electrical engineer Seokheun Choi have taken on a number of interesting forms. For the first time, he has now woven his innovative fuel cells into a stretchable piece of fabric that could one day power wearable electronics with our body's own bacteria.