Sugar-power 'sweet' for environment
Monday, 26 Mar 2007 14:29
Running out of battery could be a thing of the past
Science In Focus
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Consumers could be using sugar to power portable electronic goods such as iPods in the future, according to scientists who have developed a new sugar-powered battery.
Researchers at Missouri's St Louis University claim that the new sugar power cell could eventually replace traditional lithium ion batteries as a more environmentally-friendly and energy efficient means of charging devices such as mobile phones.
Other sugar-powered cells have previously been developed by scientists, but those behind the latest battery claim that it is the most-powerful yet created, having the potential to last three to four times longer than conventional batteries.
Delegates at the latest national meeting of the American Chemical Society were told that the small prototype of the battery, which is roughly the size of a postage stamp and which has already been used to power a pocket calculator, could be prepared for sale within three to five years if further testing and development is successful.
The battery, which runs on a range of sugar sources, has so far been successfully tested with glucose, flat fizzy drinks and even tree sap.
Enzymes contained within the cell convert the sugar into electricity, leaving water behind as a main by-product, while the new battery is kinder to the environment than traditional fuel cells because it is compromised largely of components which are bio-degradable.
Scientists say that the new technology could not only benefit consumers but also the military, which is said to be interested in exploring the possibility of using the sugar-powered cell to charge electronic equipment on the battlefield.
Commenting on the research, study leader Shelley Minteer said: "This study shows that renewable fuels can be directly employed in batteries at room temperature to lead to more energy-efficient battery technology than metal-based approaches.
"It demonstrates that by bridging biology and chemistry we can build a better battery that's also cleaner for the environment."