Engineers at Binghamton University in New York have developed a folded paper battery that generates power by leveraging the process of microbial respiration, in nothing more than a drop of dirty water on paper. The system uses liquid-containing bacteria that are used to power a paper-based sensor.
The battery folds down into the size of a matchbox. Actual origami techniques were used to create the three-dimensional structures, which can be stacked top one another.
This folded paper battery is a marvelous feat of engineering. Its unique workings make it particularly useful in situations and places with little or no access to electricity. It could potentially be used to create diagnostic tools in the developing world, seeing as how the bacteria-based power source can be easily sourced from wastewater and biomass.
Origami-Inspired Batteries
This Folded Paper Battery is Powered By Bacteria
Trend Themes
1. Microbial Respiration Batteries - Innovative battery designs that leverage the power of microbial respiration to create clean and sustainable energy sources for small, low-power devices.
2. Paper-based Origami Structures - A new trend in utilizing origami techniques and paper-based structures in engineering designs for small, portable, and low-cost devices.
3. Bacteria-powered Sensors - A new trend in using bacteria as a power source for sensors and other low-power devices that could be deployed in remote or resource-constrained areas.
Industry Implications
1. Medical Diagnostics - Opportunities for developing low-cost, portable, and bacteria-powered diagnostic tools that can be easily deployed in resource-constrained settings.
2. Environmental Monitoring - Opportunities for developing low-cost, paper-based sensors that can be powered by bacteria and used for environmental monitoring and water quality testing in remote areas.
3. Waste Management - Opportunities for developing innovative solutions for waste management that leverage bacteria-based power sources to generate clean and sustainable energy from wastewater and biomass resources.