Researchers at University of Oxford’s Department of Chemistry have developed bio-integrated batteries for medically implanted devices, and robotics. They believe their miniature soft lithium-ion batteries could serve as defibrillators to control heart rhythms during surgery. The media release that we link to below envisages further applications in robotics, biology, and general medicine too.
The Science Behind These Bio-Integrated Batteries
The team constructed their prototype battery by assembling bio-compatible hydrogel droplets. These tiny particles are made from bio-degradable polymers that can mix with water, and already feature in a variety of medical procedures.
The team from University of Oxford Department of Chemistry claim to have produced “the smallest soft lithium-ion battery with the highest energy density”. Hold that thought while we investigate further.
More About the World’s Smallest, Densest Lithium-Ion Battery
As science advances, the need increases for tiny smart medical devices, smaller than a few cubic millimeters in size. Invasive medical procedures also call for bio-integrated batteries made from soft materials that integrate easily.
But those tiny batteries should also feature high energy storage capacity, and be both bio-compatible and bio-degradable. And finally, they should be controllable from outside the patient’s body. To date, no battery has ever met this tall order, the researchers say.
The team from Oxford University assembled a series of three micro-scale hydrogel droplets of 10 nano-liters volume, using soap-like molecule ‘glue’. Different lithium-ion particles in the outlying droplets then generated the output energy.
Lead researcher Dr Yujia Zhang explains, “Our droplet battery is light-activated, rechargeable, and biodegradable after use. To date, it is the smallest hydrogel lithium-ion battery, and has a superior energy density. ‘
“We used the droplet battery to power the movement of charged molecules between synthetic cells, and to control the beating and defibrillation of mouse hearts. By including magnetic particles to control movement, the battery can also function as a mobile energy carrier.”
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