Bacteria fuels 3D printed biobatteries

According to Binghamton University, Professor Seokheun ‘Sean’ Choi has developed a series of bacteria-fueled biobatteries for use in remote locations such as oceans and forests, as well as the human digestive tract. Now, he’s working on integrating these fuel cells into flexible electronics using the latest 3D printing technology. The research into developing a manufacturing process that will not kill the biological components necessary for power generation is funded by a $550,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

“The next generation of electronics will be all-in-one electronics, with all the components integrated in one single sheet rather than different components assembled later,” said Professor Seokheun ‘Sean’ Choi, a faculty member in the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Binghamton University. “The problem with microbial fuel cells as a power source is that liquid for bacterial material is not compatible with solid-state electronics. Also, living bacteria cannot survive many extreme microfabrication processes.”

Choi is looking to use a solution he found effective for his ingestible biobatteries – dormant bacterial spores, which are resistant to harsh conditions and can survive for long periods. When the conditions are right, the spores will germinate and generate power.

“There are many different types of energy-harvesting techniques, like mechanical-, solar- or radio frequency-based,” he said. “I still believe that microbial fuel cells are the most suitable because it’s a living material. They can self-maintain, self-heal, and adapt to environmental changes.”

The research ties into Choi’s ideas about eco-friendly electronics that can be used for the Internet of Things to connect more devices into a collective network, even single-use sensors like food packaging, agriculture, or ‘smart bandages’. Thanks to a different NSF grant last year, he has been pursuing better papertronics that are environmentally safe and biodegradable.

“We need to use an energy-harvesting technique so the electronics are functioning for a long time without batteries and never will be electronic waste because of power-source issues,” he said. “We also need eco-friendly electronics. I’m not talking about just the material itself but also the fabrication, operation, and everything.”