Binghamton University researchers have created a biodegradable, paper-based battery that is more efficient than previously possible. It may be that batteries of the future may be made out of paper.

Researchers at Binghamton University, State University at New York have created a biodegradable, paper-based battery that is more efficient than previously possible.  Image Credit: Seokheun ‘Sean’ Choi, Binghamton University. Click image for the largest view.

The idea is a stretch, but for years there has been excitement in the scientific community about the possibility of paper-based batteries as an eco-friendly alternative. However, the proposed designs were never quite powerful enough, they were difficult to produce and it was questionable whether they were really biodegradable.

The Binghamton researchers think their new design solves all of those problems.

Associate Professor Seokheun “Sean” Choi from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and Professor Omowunmi Sadik from the Chemistry Department worked on the project together. Choi engineered the design of the paper-based battery, while Sadik was able to make the battery a self-sustaining “biobattery”.

“There’s been a dramatic increase in electronic waste and this may be an excellent way to start reducing that,” said Choi. “Our hybrid paper battery exhibited a much higher power-to-cost ratio than all previously reported paper-based microbial batteries.”

The biobattery uses a hybrid of paper and engineered polymers. The polymers – poly (amic) acid and poly (pyromellitic dianhydride-p-phenylenediamine) – were the key to giving the batteries biodegrading properties. The team tested the degradation of the battery in water and it clearly biodegraded without the requirements of special facilities, conditions or introduction of other microorganisms.

The polymer-paper structures are lightweight, low-cost and flexible. Choi said that flexibility also provides another benefit.

“Power enhancement can be potentially achieved by simply folding or stacking the hybrid, flexible paper-polymer devices,” said Choi.

The team said that producing the biobatteries is a fairly straightforward process and that the material allows for modifications depending on what configuration is needed.

The team’s research paper, titled “Green Biobatteries: Hybrid Paper-Polymer Microbial Fuel Cells,” has been published in Advanced Sustainable Systems.

The work was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation and done through the Center for Research in Advanced Sensing Technologies and Environmental Sustainability.

Admittedly the first impression might be why bother, but in truth, except for the large lead acid car starting and deep discharge batteries, recycling is vastly disappointing. Throw away alkaline batteries are plenty noxious, some of the rechargeables are toxic. So there is a highly desirable point in safer, after use, battery technology.

The study paper is behind a paywall, so there isn’t the customary news on just how much energy by weight and volume has been accomplished. But there will be many steps to get to market. This is one more worthy one.


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