An electric-eel-inspired soft power source from stacked hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: Progress towards the integration of technology into living organisms requires electrical power sources that are biocompatible, mechanically flexible, and able to harness the chemical energy available inside biological systems. Conventional batteries were not designed with these criteria in mind. The electric organ of the knifefish Electrophorus electricus (commonly known as the electric eel) is, however, an example of an electrical power source that operates within biological constraints while featuring power characteristics that include peak potential differences of 600 volts and currents of 1 ampere. Here we introduce an electric-eel-inspired power concept that uses gradients of ions between miniature polyacrylamide hydrogel compartments bounded by a repeating sequence of cation- and ani

SUBMITTER: Schroeder TBH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6436395 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature