Sony Develops Battery that Generates Electricity Through Sugar
The bio battery consists of a cellophane separator which has an anode (the positive electrode in an electrolytic cell or a storage battery) that consists of sugar-digesting enzymes and mediator on one side, and a cathode (an electrode through which (positive) electric current flows out of a polarized electrical device) that has oxygen-reducing enzymes and mediator on the other side. The system works when the anode extracts electrons and hydrogen ions from the sugar through enzymatic oxidation then the hydrogen goes to the cathode through the separator and once there, the hydrogen ions and electrons absorb oxygen from the air to produce water. Sony calls this process, electrochemical reaction and when the electrons pass through the outer circuit, it generates electricity.
Sony reveals that their bio battery has an output power of 50 mW through tests conducted on the battery. Sony stated that their bio battery currently has the world's highest output power for passive type bio batteries. According to Sony's press release, the power output of their bio battery is enough to power-up a memory type Walkman.
Sony stated that in order to have a high power output, they developed a system of breaking down sugar that efficiently immobilizes enzymes and the mediator at the anode and a new cathode structure has helped in efficiently supplying oxygen to the electrode.
A video posted on Sony's website demonstrates the capabilities of their bio battery. In one demonstration, four bio batteries are connected then a glucose solution is poured unto one of the batteries. The batteries converted the glucose solution into electricity and powered up a memory Walkman. In another demonstration, Sony used an ordinary sports drink which contains sugar, poured it unto a the bio battery and the battery was able to turn on a small fan.
Sony's bio battery test cell specifications measures 39 millimeters cubed and weigh 40 cc without the casing. Sony's bio battery's casing is made up of vegetable-based plastic and designed to look like a biological cell.
Sony already presented their research as an academic paper at the 234th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition in Boston, Massachusetts.
SOURCE:
Sony Global Press Release, Sony Develops "Bio Battery" Generating Electricity from Sugar. URL: (http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200708/07-074E/index.html)
Published by Natalie Sod
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1 Comments
Post a CommentOh sure, sugar batteries from Sony sounds like a sweet deal. Im sure sugar battery v2 will be incompatible with v1. Either way no hardware that anybody wants or can afford will be compatible with the betamax battery and nobody will use the minidisk battery. The sugar battery will be sure to put a root-kit on any computer it is installed on. Then there is the wonderful quality of their consumer lines. It breaks before things go out of style so you can always be hip with new stuff. Everyone knows "Junk to sell to Americans" is what Sony means in Japaneese. Of course Sony is famous for its exploding batteries. That is kind of cool. Electronic junk should explode, just like in the Sony movies. Sweet!