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.