Researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have created a flexible and stretchy battery that is fueled by human sweat.
The prototype battery is made out of printed silver flake electrodes that create energy when wet. The battery, which is 2 cm by 2 cm and is as flat as a little paper bandage, is attached to a flexible and sweat-absorbing cloth that is stretchy and attachable to wearable devices such as watches.
The team of scientists tested its gadget with fake human sweat to illustrate its potential application in wearable biosensors and other electrical devices.
In a separate trial, the team reported that an individual wearing the battery around their wrist and cycling on a stationary bicycle for 30 minutes was able to generate a voltage of 4.2 V and output power of 3.9 mW, which was sufficient to power a commercial temperature sensor device and continuously send data to a smartphone via bluetooth.
Unlike traditional batteries, which are frequently made from unsustainable resources that are damaging to the environment, the battery does not contain heavy metals or poisonous chemicals.
The creation of the sweat-powered battery demonstrates NTU’s dedication to finding solutions to lessen our impact on the environment by serving as a more sustainable option that might reduce hazardous electrical waste. This is one of the four major challenges to mankind that NTU intends to solve in its NTU 2025 strategic plan.
The researchers intend to investigate the impact of additional components of human perspiration, as well as how elements such as body heat may affect the battery’s efficiency.
