Chinese scientists develop a working oxygen battery that can be inserted into a living body and does not run out
Researchers at Tianjin University of Technology in China have developed a new type of battery that runs on the body's oxygen and never runs out. A press release states that this battery can be implanted in the body for multiple purposes. The article was published in the journal Chem
With advances in medical technology, implanting devices within the body to modulate organ functions has become quite common. Pacemakers help keep your heart rate from dropping, while neurostimulators can help ease chronic pain. All these devices require an external energy source, conventionally provided by small but powerful batteries.
These batteries can serve the patient for years, but eventually they run out and the entire system must be replaced or recharged, perhaps by induction. This requires the patient to undergo another invasive surgery or in any case to go to specialized centers.
Chinese researchers went a step further and took inspiration from life itself and how it sustains itself using oxygen.
The oxygen battery
The battery design consists of electrodes made from a nanoporous sodium-gold alloy. In this form, gold has thousands of microscopic holes.
The research team used gold because it is known to be a good conductor and compatible with living systems. Sodium, on the other hand, is an essential element of the human body, in which it is naturally present and therefore non-toxic.
The electrodes can react with oxygen in the body and generate a voltage. To test their device, the research team implanted a battery under the skin of mice in the laboratory. Prior to implantation, the battery was encased in a porous polymer film to allow molecules to pass through and protect the battery configuration.
“If we think about it, oxygen is the source of our life,” said Xizheng Liu, professor of energy materials and devices at Tianjin University of Technology.
“If we can take advantage of the body's continuous supply of oxygen, battery life will not be limited by the limited materials of conventional batteries.”
Two weeks after implantation, the battery power was measured and found to be stable between 1.3 and 1.4 V. The maximum power density was 2.6 µW/cm2. It's still not enough to power medical devices. However, it is a good proof of concept that researchers can develop further.
How did the living tissue react?
In addition to the power output, the researchers wanted to know how the body would react to the implanted battery. The team found no inflammatory reactions around the implantation site, and the mice's metabolic functions remained normal.
Byproducts of the battery's chemical reactions included hydrogen peroxide molecules and sodium and hydroxide ions. These were produced in low quantities and were easily metabolized by the rats' kidneys and livers, the press release said. Four weeks later, the hair at the implant site had also grown back.
When the researchers measured the battery power immediately after implantation, it was quite unstable. However, as the implant site healed, the blood vessels around the battery could regenerate and supply oxygen to the battery, making its production more stable.
For future research, the team wants to explore other electrode materials, which can help optimize the battery's design and make it more affordable for mass production.
The oxygen battery could also have a non-negligible positive secondary effect. “Because cancer cells are sensitive to oxygen levels, implanting this oxygen-consuming battery can help starve tumors,” Liu added in the press release . “It is also possible to convert battery energy into heat to kill cancer cells.”
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The article Chinese scientists develop a working oxygen battery that can be inserted into a living body and does not run out comes from Economic Scenarios .
This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/scienziati-cinesi-sviluppano-una-batteria-funzionante-a-ossigeno-che-puo-essere-inserita-in-un-corpo-vivente-e-non-si-esaurisce/ on Wed, 27 Mar 2024 20:08:19 +0000.