Bio Battery

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A bio-battery is an energy storing device that is powered by organic compounds. Bio-
Battery generates electricity from renewable fuels (glucose, sucrose, fructose, etc) providing a
sustained, on-demand portable power source. When enzymes in our bodies break down glucose,
several electrons and protons are released. Therefore, by using enzymes to break down glucose,
bio-batteries directly receive energy from glucose. These batteries then store this energy for later
use. This concept is almost identical to how both plants and many animals obtain energy. Bio
battery use biocatalyst, either biomolecules such as enzymes or even whole living organism to
catalyze oxidation of bio mass-based materials for generating electrical energy. Bio Battery can
be called as energy accumulated device that is motorized by organic compounds, usually being
glucose, like glucose in human blood. Many electrons and protons are released due to break
down of glucose by enzymes present in our body. Thus, bio batteries directly get energy from
glucose by using enzymes present in a human body break down glucose. An interesting fact is
that bacteria can generateelectricity when a protein in their cell membranes gets in touch with a
mineral surface. Shewanellaoneidensis is marine bacteria that can develop electric currents when
bared to heavymetals like iron and manganese. These proteins can transmit electrons transversely
a membrane at a rate faster enough sothat the energy produced is sufficient so that bacteria can
survive. Functioning of these bacteria will help scientists in making those bio batteries that could
store energy for sensors in remote environment.Human blood and sugar glucose are considered
as most priceless sources of power because they happen naturally, are easy to get and no harmful
emissions are reproduced. Another interesting battery uses human urine as its fuel. The size of
the device is like a credit card size and might form the source of economical, disposable disease
testing kits. What makes it more useful is that the battery and devices for testing is incorporated
in one disposable chip

Fig 1.1: Bio Battery

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CHAPTER 2

HISTORY
As an electrical signal can induce a biological reaction; the reverse in is also true in most of the
cases and in this way biological processes can be used to generate electricity for powering
electrical equipment.

Even though the Bio fuel cells have been known for almost a century since the first microbial
BFC(Bio fuel cells) was demonstrated in 1912,the first enzyme-based bio-fuel cell was reported
only in 1964 using glucose oxidize (GOx) as the anodic catalyst and glucose as the bio-fuel.

The First Bio Battery:

The Bio Battery, based on the work of Professor Kenji Kano (Kyoto University), is a type
of battery that uses energy sources such as carbohydrates, amino acids and enzymes from a
variety of sources. anode consists of sugar-digesting enzymes and mediator, and the cathode
composes of oxygenreducingenzymes and mediator. The mediators in this case are Vitamin K3
for the anode and potassium ferricyanide for the cathode. When sugar is added to the mixture,
the anode garners the electrons and hydrogen ions. When the battery generates power, the
protons travel to the cathode through the electrolyte to combine with the oxygen to produce
water. Since the biocatalysts (enzymes) are very selective catalytically, the miniaturized bio-fuel
cell could in principle be fabricated as a membrane-less fuel cell.

Fig 2.1: Traditional Bio-battery

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Bio Battery Using Human Blood

In 2003, Japanese researchers at Panasonic's Nanotechnology Research Laboratory announced that they
were working on extracting power from blood glucose. At the time, they were using enzymes a frequent
component of bio-batteries due to their catalytic properties to electrons from glucose. Two years later, a
different Japanese research team, this one from Tohoku University, announced that they had succeeded
in creating a small "biological fuel cell.

Bio Battery Using Human Urine

In August 2005, scientists in Singapore developed a battery that uses human urine as its fuel. Despite its
potentially off- putting power source, the battery has a wide variety of applications. The researchers said
that their device was the size of a credit card and could form the basis of inexpensive, disposable
disease-testing kits. (Urine is already used to detect drugs and some diseases.) What makes the device
particularly useful is that it integrated the battery and testing device into one disposable chip. Imagine a
one-time use home-testing kit for diseases like cancer or hepatitis. One of the researchers involved in
the project said that the battery could also be adapted to provide a brief charge to other electronic
devices. A lost hiker might use one to power a cell phone for a short emergency call.

Bio Battery Using Carbohydrates

Sony Corporation (Japan) has developed a bio-battery with a peak power output of 50 mW, which could
power a portable MP3 player. On August23,2007 Sony announced the development of a bio battery that
generates electricity from carbohydrates(sugar) utilizing enzymes as its catalyst, through the application
of power generation principles found in living organisms.

Bio Batteries Using Blood And Sweat

“Its flexible, it can be shaped or folded, & can poke a hole in it & it still works ” says chemist ROBERT
LINHARDT , a member of research team that developed the new bio battery made from paper & carbon
nano tubes working at RENSSE LAR POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE IN NEWYORK, easily implanted directly
under the skinun like metal batteries.

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CHAPTER 3

PROBLEM STATEMENT
The continuous evolution of power systems, characterized by increasing complexity,
interconnectedness, and the integration of renewable energy sources, presents significant
challenges for power system protection and control. While advancements in technology offer
promising solutions, they also introduce new vulnerabilities and complexities that must be
addressed. Therefore, there is a critical need to investigate and develop innovative protection and
control strategies to ensure the reliable, secure, and efficient operation of modern power systems.

Despite significant advancements in technology, emerging threats such as cyberattacks,

distributed generation, and grid integration issues necessitate a reevaluation of existing
protection and control strategies to mitigate risks and optimize system performance.

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CHAPTER 4

WORKINGS OF BIO BATTERY

4.1.1 Structure

Like any cell battery, bio-batteries contain an anode, cathode, separator and electrolyte with each
component layered on top of another. Anodes and cathodes are the negative and positive areas on
a battery that allow electrons to flow in and out.

The anode is located at the top of the battery and the cathode is located at the bottom of the
battery. Anodes allow electrons to flow in from outside the battery, whereas cathodes allow
current to flow out from the battery.

Between the anode and the cathode lies the electrolyte which contains a separator. The main
function of the separator is to keep the cathode and anode separated, to avoid electrical short
circuits. This system as a whole, allows for a flow of protons (H+) and electrons (e-) which
ultimately generates electricity.

4.1.2 Glucose

Bio batteries are heavily based on the amount of glucose available. This glucose (sugar) can be
provided from nearly anything, including soda, waste materials (such as old papers), or the
glucose in living organisms.

The decomposition of materials to glucose (if they are not already in the proper stage) is the
main step in getting the cycle started. Materials can be converted into glucose through the
process of enzymatic hydrolysis.

Enzymatic hydrolysis is the process in which cellulose (an insoluble substance) is converted to
glucose by the addition of enzymes.Once glucose is present, oxygen and other enzymes can act
on it to further produce protons and electrons.

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4.1.3 Process

Similar to how human bodies convert food to energy using enzymes, bio-batteries use enzymes
to convert glucose into energy.When glucose first enters the battery, it enters through the anode.
In the anode the sugar is broken down, producing both electrons and protons.

Glucose → Gluconolactone + 2H+ + 2e−

These electrons and protons produced now play an important role in creating energy. They travel
through the electrolyte, where the separator redirects electrons to go through the mediator to get
to the cathode. On the other hand, protons are redirected to go through the separator to get to the
cathode side of the battery.

The cathode then consists of an oxidation reduction reaction.This reaction uses the protons and
electrons, with the addition of oxygen gas, to produce water.

O2 +4H+ + 4e− → 2H2O

There is a flow created from the anode to the cathode which is what generates the electricity in
the bio-battery.The flow of electrons and protons in the system are what create this generation of
electricity.

Fig 4.1: Working Of Bio Battery

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4.2 Need for Bio-Batteries

In the field of electricity, a battery is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy.
Different types of batteries are used in various electronic and electrical devices. However, these
batteries contain certain chemicals such as compounds of lead and mercury, which are highly
toxic in nature. Also, chemical batteries are prone to explosions, leakages, etc. These problems
are not seen in the case of bio-batteries.
Therefore, bio-batteries have a great potential to be used as suitable alternatives or even
replacements for chemical batteries in the future.

4.3 Types of bio-batteries

Depending on the type of agents involved in the breakdown of the substrate, the main types of
bio-batteries are –

• Enzymatic bio-battery - Biochemical agents, i.e., enzymes are involved in the breakdown of
substrate (mainly sugars).

• Microbial bio-battery - Micro-organisms such as Escherichia coli, electric bacteria, etc., are
involved in the breakdown of substrate (organic or inorganic).

In both types of bio-batteries, the breakdown of the substrate yields protons and electrons. The
circulation of these protons and electrons within the bio-battery generates the conduction of
electricity.

Other types of bio-batteries developed include cellulose-based bio-batteries, body fluid-based

bio-batteries, etc.

Even mitochondria (sourced from a suitable biological cell) can be used in a bio-battery, since
they are regarded as the "energy powerhouses" of the biological cell.

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CHAPTER 5

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

5.1 ADVANTAGES

Bio-batteries have various advantages over chemical batteries –

1. Quick recharging capabilities

Enzymatic bio-batteries which function on glucose can be recharged quickly due to fast action of the
enzymes. Also, in a microbial bio-battery, glucose is an instantaneous source of energy. Therefore, the
battery can be recharged extremely quickly. Chemical batteries cannot be charged as quickly as bio-
batteries.

2. Clean, non-toxic source of energy

Sources of energy (susbstrate material) for the functioning of a bio-battery are completely renewable,
non-polluting, as well as environmentally-friendly (wastewater recycled to produce electricity).
Therefore, unlike chemical batteries, bio-batteries are a clean, non-toxic source of energy.

3. Extremely safe

Bio-batteries do not undergo explosions or leakages, which is not the case with chemical batteries.
Therefore, bio-batteries are completely safe to use.

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5.2 DISADVANTAGES

1. Compared to conventional batteries, such as lithium batteries, bio-batteries are less likely to retain
most of their energy. This causes a problem when it comes to long term usage and storage of
energy for these batteries.

2. However, researchers are continuing to develop the battery in order to make it a more practical
replacement for current batteries and sources of energy.

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CHAPTER 6

APPLICATIONS

Presently, bio-batteries are under development for greater improvement, versatility, and usage in
various areas. Research is being carried out in this field of study.

However, bio-batteries can have great potential applications in the following fields –

1. Electronic devices - Bio-batteries are being developed so as to be used in electronic

devices such as laptops and mobile phones. Owing to their quick recharging capabilities,
bio-batteries remain ideal replacements for chemical batteries in these devices. Bio-
batteries also possess great potential to be used in electronic toys.
2. Medicine - Bio-batteries can find great usage in artificially-implanted medical devices
such as artificial pacemakers, external hearing devices, battery-operated insulin pumps,
etc. Digital thermometers and glucose meters (used by diabetics) can also be operated
using bio-batteries.
3. Defence purposes - Bio-batteries have great potential to be used in the defence field for
the purposes of surveillance, remote sensing, spying devices, etc.
4. Fuel synthesis - Scientists have developed a prototype of a solar-powered microbial
device (combination of a bio-battery and a solar cell) which produces hydrogen gas. The
energy sources for this combination device are wastewater and sunlight. If this
technology is further developed and used on a larger scale, wastewater can be efficiently
recycled, and the increasing demand for clean, non-polluting fuel can be addressed.

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FUTURE SCOPE
Improved design and performance leads to 50X higher volumetric power density over existing
prototype .The longer-term goal in this area is to further enhance performance to ultimately
develop batteries suitable for notebook computers and other mobile devices. While many
technological challenges still remain, Bio Battery has great potential as a nextgeneration energy
device.

Advantages include its excellent harmony with the environment as a product fueled by a
carbohydrate (glucose) having high energy density. Sony will continue to work toward the
commercialization of this technology in the near future, initially for use in toys and other low-
power products.

Bio-batteries have a very bright future ahead of them as test productions and research have been
increasing over recent years. They serve as a new form of energy that is proving to be
environmentally friendly, as well as successful, in producing and reserving energy.
Fullyintegrated demonstrations are to be executed in close collaboration with customer, for
relevant applications

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CONCLUSION
The Bio batteries are High performing, stable, and reproducible enzymatic fuel cell technology
developed over last 5 years. The Scaled-up demonstration of Bio-Battery powering electronic
circuit (performed at both Power Sources and Army Science Confs).

Fully-integrated Bio-Battery charging prototypes are already developed. Funding secured from
multiple Department of Defense (DOD) agencies for multiple target applications over the next 3-
5 years.

While many exciting announcements have been made in the field of bio-batteries, it may be
some time before we see them replacing nickel-cadmium, lithium-ion or the several other types
of traditional batteries.

Even so, the small, flexible, long-lasting and environmentally friendly battery technologies
discussed here show the great possibilities researchers see in bio-batteries, especially for the field
of medicine. The technology generates electricity by turning shredded paper into sugar which in
turn is used as fuel. If brought to market, the innovation could allow the public to top up the
power of their mobile devices using waste material.

Compared to conventional batteries, such as lithium batteries, bio-batteries are less likely to
retain most of their energy. This causes a problem when it comes to long term usage and storage
of energy for these batteries. However, researchers are continuing to develop the battery in order
to make it a more practical replacement for current batteries and sources of energy. The bio-
batteries are environmentally friendly as they did not use harmful chemicals or metals. . With
that in mind, scientists seem to be exploring every possible option in bio-battery and fuelcell
technology.

They serve as a new form of energy that is proving to be environmentally friendly, as well as
successful, in producing and reserving energy. Although the batteries are still being tested before
being commercially sold, several research teams and engineers are working to further advance
the development of these batteries.

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