Innovative Breakthrough: A Rechargeable Battery You Can Eat

Innovation has been the leading edge of human progress. This year, another groundbreaking achievement has entered the world of electronics: an edible battery.

Never in a million years would anyone expect a rechargeable battery that you could eat. It can power little electronic devices for a limited time.

A team of researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) has developed this remarkable battery. They used materials that are an actual part of a human diet.

Mario Caironi, the team leader, has incorporated riboflavin and quercetin to create a battery cell. These key materials are commonly present in our daily diet. The researchers used them as cathode and anode.

Is it safe to eat an edible battery?

While this innovation is new, the researchers’ materials are all safe for human consumption. The researchers have intensely tested them for safety.

Researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology have created a prototype of an edible and rechargeable battery, made entirely from food products.https://t.co/fcZ8zYEHW9

— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) April 14, 2023

However, it’s important not to consume too much and follow the researchers’ instructions. The battery cell also uses nori seaweed as a separator and activated charcoal to enhance electrical conductivity.

They also incorporated food-grade gold contacts and beeswax on cellulose-derived support. Thus, making it completely edible and safe to eat. In addition, its safety level is high, that it can be safely used in children’s toys.

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Moreover, the edible battery runs at a low voltage of 0.65 V. It can power up small electronic devices like low-voltage LEDs in a limited time.

This incredible invention could pave the way for applications in food quality monitoring, health diagnostics, and edible soft robotics. It is the first-ever entirely edible rechargeable battery that scientists have ever developed.

The team’s study on edible electronics is a developing field that could significantly impact treating and diagnosing gastrointestinal tract diseases. It could also affect the monitoring system of food quality.

Researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology have created a prototype of an edible and rechargeable battery, made entirely from food products pic.twitter.com/Q6GFTs2KNV

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 13, 2023

In addition, the researchers are also creating devices with higher capabilities to lower the overall size for future experiments. However, these edible batteries can’t run electric cars.

But, the invention proves that batteries can compose of safer materials than standard lithium-ion batteries. The study was published in the Advanced Materials journal.

In 2019, a 2-million-euro ERC grant for the ELFO Project supported this remarkable research. This project aims to explore the edible electronics area.

Overall, the edible battery the IIT researchers created is a significant breakthrough that could potentially change the electronics industry. The battery uses common materials from a human diet. With this, the team has proved that batteries can use safe materials for a sustainable future.