Stepping Toward Self‐Powered Papertronics: Integrating Biobatteries into a Single Sheet of Paper

Advanced Energy Materials

2017

Self Cite

The fabrication and performance of a flexible and stretchable microbial fuel cell (MFC) monolithically integrated into a single sheet of textile substrate are reported. The single‐layer textile MFC uses Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1) as a biocatalyst to produce a maximum power of 6.4 µW cm−2 and current density of 52 µA cm−2, which are substantially higher than previous textile‐MFCs and are similar to other flexible paper‐based MFCs. The textile MFC demonstrates a stable performance with repeated stretching and twisting cycles. The membrane‐less single‐chamber configuration drastically simplifies the fabrication and improves the performance of the MFC. A conductive and hydrophilic anode in a 3D fabric microchamber maximizes bacterial electricity generation from a liquid environment and a silver oxide/silver solid‐state cathode reduces cathodic overpotential for fast catalytic reaction. A simple batch fabrication approach simultaneously constructs 35 individual devices, which will revolutionize the mass production of textile MFCs. This stretchable and twistable power device printed directly onto a single textile substrate can establish a standardized platform for textile‐based biobatteries and will be potentially integrated into wearable electronics in the future.

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 58%

Flexible and Stretchable Biobatteries: Monolithic Integration of Membrane‐Free Microbial Fuel Cells in a Single Textile Layer

Pang

Gao

Advanced Energy Materials

2017

Self Cite

“…The detailed fabrication processes for the air cathode on paper were reported in our previous reports [24][25][26]. In short, 15 mg·cm −2 AC catalysts with a binder solution were brushed on the wax-based PEM, and subsequently air dried for 24 h ( Figure S1).…”

Section: Experimental Sectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The anodic tab was engineered to have a conductive and hydrophilic feature with a carbon current collector, while the cathodic tab was composed of a wax-based PEM, an air-cathode catalyst layer, and a nickel current collector ( Figure S2). Previously, many studies demonstrated that the wax-based PEM can work as an ion exchange membrane, separating the anodic part from the cathode while allowing protons to pass through [18,19,25,26]. The cathodic surface was exposed to the air for a maximized cathodic reaction, and a hole was made through the entire cathodic tab to allow the sample to be introduced to the anode after folding.…”

Section: Power Generation From a Single Mfc Unitmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent paper-based miniaturized MFCs are attracting more attention as a power source because they fulfill the ASSURED biosensor criteria that the World Health Organization defined for diagnostic devices in developing countries: Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and robust, Equipment-free, and Deliverable to end-users [16]. Paper MFCs can be readily incorporated in those ASSURED biosensors for easy system integration, offering low-cost, disposable, rapid, and simple power generation without external equipment [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. The biocompatibility and fiber structure of paper induces the formation of a densely packed biofilm and generates high performance, as they provide a large surface area for bacterial attachments and a porous structure for the efficient mass transfer of ions, nutrients, and byproducts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, the anodic chamber volume was very limited, because of the other necessary components (i.e., membrane and cathode) that needed to be integrated into a single sheet of paper. Since the anodic chamber volume determines the actual surface area for the bacterial attachment, this limiting factor can substantially reduce the performance of the MFC [26,29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

On-Demand Micro-Power Generation from an Origami-Inspired Paper Biobattery Stack

Mohammadifar

2018

Batteries

Self Cite

Abstract:We use origami to create a compact, scalable three-dimensional (3-D) biobattery stack that delivers on-demand energy to the portable biosensors. Folding allows a two-dimensional (2-D) paper sheet possessing predefined functional components to form nine 3-D microbial fuel cells (MFCs), and connect them serially within a small and single unit (5.6 cm × 5.6 cm). We load the biocatalyst Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 in predefined areas that form the MFCs, and freeze-dry them for long-term storage. The biobattery stack generates a maximum power and current of 20 µW and 25 µA, respectively, via microbial metabolism when the freeze-dried cells are rehydrated with readily available wastewater. This work establishes an innovative strategy to revolutionize the fabrication, storage, operation, and application of paper-based MFCs, which could potentially make energy available even in resource-limited settings.

A Papertronic, On‐Demand and Disposable Biobattery: Saliva‐Activated Electricity Generation from Lyophilized Exoelectrogens Preinoculated on Paper

Mohammadifar

Adv Materials Technologies

2017

Self Cite

We provide portable, on-demand micropower generation by developing paper-based biobatteries that can deliver on-chip energy to the next generation of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic platforms. This work creates a low-cost, disposable, long shelf life and eco-friendly micro-power source that can be easily integrated in paper-based POC devices and be readily activated by one drop of saliva, which is readily, available in any challenging area. We created a high-performance, paper based, bacteria-powered battery by building microbial fuel cells with inactive, lyophilized (or freeze-dried) exoelectrogenic cells, allowing for a long shelf life, and that generate power within minutes of adding saliva. An oxygen-tight interface and engineered conductive paper reservoir achieved significant performance boosts from maximized microbial electron transfer efficiency. Exoelectrogenic bacteria pre-inoculated in the paper battery was freeze-dried for long-term storage (in this work, the bacteria cells were stored for up to four months) and could be readily rehydrated for on-demand power generation. Sixteen MFCs were incorporated on a single sheet of paper while This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. 2 all were connected in series with two electrical switches mounted on a paper circuit board and produced more than enough electrical energy to power an on-chip, light-emitting diode (LED).