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Genetically Modified Viruses to Power Batteries

Rahul Srinivas, Apr 06, 2009 1732 hrs IST

Aim is to draw more power keeping the battery size small

Researchers at the MIT have managed to develop a new technology that could go a long way on solving the battery related woes that plague us currently.

As energy demands and other requirements from gadgets and devices continue to increase, we are still tied to the decade old battery technologies that seem to have reached their limits. Folks at the MIT seem to understand this and their study aimed at two things. They include drawing more power and keeping the size of the batteries small - really small.

The scientists used the M13 bacteriophage -- a kind of virus that infects bacteria and genetically modified them into getting attracted towards inorganic materials. Post this; each virus gets a tendency to coat itself with gold and cobalt-oxide. When these viruses are chained or put together, they can act as anodes - an important part of any battery setup. This was discovered nearly five years ago. The problem however was the cathode, which like the anode is required for any battery to work. While we had a working model of the anode ready, such a nano sizes cathode was a challenge to be designed.

Finally, the researchers have managed to engineer viruses capable of attracting iron phosphate and carbon nanotubes, making them act like nano cathodes. With both the cathode and the anode ready, the next challenge was to actually build a working model of a battery. The team was able to make one which was capable of a 100 charges and was capable to power an LED.

The team is also looking to make more powerful batteries in the future and aims to create an inexpensive, no polluting source of power for our gadgets of the future.

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Discussion Board

Biju

,Singapore, on May 03, 2009 09:02 AM

May be Ravan's flying device also worked on some kind of virus technology.

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Samuel Konger

,Itanagar, on Apr 14, 2009 09:24 AM

Lets hope that HIV will also be put into use.

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Boredoom

,Ankrahmun, on Apr 06, 2009 07:59 PM

@ Gemini: I believe a virus isn't technically alive. I'm kind of more worried about the while virus mutating when tossed in a trash can. I don't know if that could actually happen or what would the consequences be, but having played Resident Evil games for 10 years now, it makes you think.

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charles

,sarasota, on Apr 06, 2009 07:20 PM

What I would like to know is the dimensions of the prototype battery. It can be charged 100ntimes and power an LED, great, but if it's the size of a VW what's the point? If, however, it's even smaller than the LED itself, viola!

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Gemini420

,St Petersburg, on Apr 06, 2009 07:14 PM

I imagine that the live viruses are used during the assembly phase. They are essentially tiny construction workers who can manipulate materials at a molecular level. After the battery structure is assembled, I would imagine that the virus doesn't need to remain alive. This is speculation, but would make sense.

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Gemini

,St Petersburg, on Apr 06, 2009 07:13 PM

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Jordan

,Floral Park, on Apr 06, 2009 06:02 PM

My only concern is virus's mutate.... FAST... .. reallyreallyreally fast. What happens when someone tosses this in a dump...? regardless of whether it's legal or not, it's still done, people toss lithium batteries into the trash from time to time, and when they rupture it usually causes a dumpster fire. (Lithium + Water = BAD) Are the Virus's completely dead/innate at this rate?

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andrew

,New York, on Apr 06, 2009 06:33 PM

Even if they are not, the bacteriophage in question is so common it would be like adding a bit of sand to the Sahara. Those existing viruses mutate all the time as well.

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