Dissolvable Probiotic‐Powered Biobatteries: A Safe and Biocompatible Energy Solution for Transient Applications
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract For decades, science fiction has imagined electronic devices that spring to life on demand, function as programmed, and then vanish without a trace. Today, transient and bioresorbable electronics are making that vision a reality, sparking revolutionary progress in biomedicine, environmental stewardship, and hardware security. Yet one critical barrier remains: a fully transient power source with the same disappearing act. Microbial‐based biobatteries have emerged as strong contenders, harnessing the power of microorganisms—found virtually everywhere—as natural biocatalysts. However, toxicity and health risks have limited these systems to single‐use, often incinerable applications. Here, a transformative approach: a transient biobattery powered by commercially available probiotics that dissolves harmlessly is introduced, releasing only beneficial microbes. Fabricated on water‐soluble or pH‐responsive substrates, this biobattery capitalizes on a 15‐strain probiotic blend to generate electricity across diverse electrode materials. By manipulating device length or encapsulating it with pH‐sensitive polymers, power delivery can be fine‐tuned from 4 min up to over 100 min. A single module outputs 4 µW of power, 47 µA of current, and an open‐circuit voltage of 0.65 V. This groundbreaking design ushers in a new era of safe, effective transient bioenergy systems, opening unprecedented opportunities in biomedical implants, environmental sensors, and disposable electronics.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation · Photoreceptor and optogenetics research · Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Bioelectronics & Microsystems Laboratory Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902 USA
Center for Research in Advanced Sensing Technologies & Environmental Sustainability State University of New York at Binghamton Binghamton NY 13902 USA
Funding
National Science Foundation
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