Ultra-small batteries powered by viruses
/v3-uk/news/2001303/ultra-batteries-powered-viruses
07 Apr 2006, Iain Thomson , V3
Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are using viruses to create tiny batteries that can store up to three times as much energy as conventional power systems.
The team, led by MIT professors Angela Belcher, Paula Hammond and Yet-Ming Chiang, genetically modified a virus so that it attracts cobalt oxide and gold, and assembled the metals into ultra-thin wires just six nanometres in diameter.
The viruses can be cloned to assemble lithium batteries ranging in size from a grain of rice to a full-sized product.
"Once we have altered the genes of the virus to grow the electrode material, we can easily clone millions of identical copies of the virus to use in assembling our batteries," said Professor Belcher.
"For the metal oxide we chose cobalt oxide because it has very good specific capacity, which will produce batteries with high energy density.
"This allows it to store two or three times more energy for its size and weight compared to previous battery electrode materials. And adding the gold further increased the wires' energy density."
Furthermore the viruses do not need a special environment and the reaction takes place at room temperature, lowering the production costs of any virus assembly system.
Experts estimate that current battery technology performance improvements will be limited to around eight per cent a year, but this new technology could lead to a dramatic improvement in these figures.
The energy density of current batteries is a major sticking point in the development of long lasting laptops and electric cars.
Do you agree?
Battery's only one possiblity maybe
Wonder if this idea could be used for other forms of circut layout? Like IC's and other chips.
Posted by Rob, 08 Apr 2006
Science & Economics
When it comes to energy production and the future - we don't know what we are going to be using. Wind energy and solar are probably going to be stop-gaps for the many new sources of energy uncovered in the future.
Energy-wise, we should be able to have our cake and eat it too. Energy should be a cheap resource - available for anything we wish to use it for and in the amounts that we wish to use it. Cheap energy will make us more competitive ? and bring the cost of everything down. Oil is polluting and dirty and loud (engines), and has to be sourced from places which we would rather not get it from. Like the light bulb and the gas lamp, we need these and many steps like this to make alternative energy sources - the reality.
Posted by Rebecca Hill, 08 Apr 2006
@futureboy
It's not the ASIAN FLU. I think people can be so ignorant sometimes.
Try Avian, H5N1, or bird flu next time.
Posted by relacks, 08 Apr 2006
new battery viirus attacks humans
Ack the virus has mutanted and is now getting the raw material to make there battieres from us humnas! No where to run or hid now it is the end!
I love that anyway it is a sound and great idea, but messing with mothernature watch this very closely and see what can happen!
Posted by CourtJesterG, 09 Apr 2006
Expensive, but a large leap forward.
Battery effeciancy is the slowest growing electrical technology, and it is holding back many other technologies. When the production costs of manufacturing batteries through viruses is low enough, we could see a large leap in cellphone, car, and laptop technology as well.
Posted by Quail Johansen, 07 Apr 2006
2015: CDC Reports Asian Car Battery Flu Epidemic
Now, not only your operating system can get a virus, but your car battery might get infected with a battery-eating virus from a car with Asian Battery Flu . Norton anti-virus for batteries...invest now.
Posted by FutureBoy, 07 Apr 2006