Scientists continue to make progress in electronics that can safely monitor and manipulate our health from within the body. Unfortunately, operating these mini medical tools is not always easy.
But now there's a new type of rechargeable battery that can help in that department. It comes made of edible material and can safely dissolve in the stomach once you have done what you need to do.
The prototype device shown in a new study operates at a harmless 0.65 volt and delivers a current of 48 microamps for 12 minutes - well within the range needed to give small electronic devices a power source.
And the "Science Alert" website quotes Mario Caironi, a molecular electronics researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology, as saying: "Possible future uses range from edible circuits and sensors that can monitor health conditions to triggering sensors to monitor food storage conditions." Because of the safety level of these batteries, they can be used in children's toys, where there is a high risk of ingestion."
Designed from a diverse list of ingredients, it is the first functional rechargeable battery that can be served as a snack. Its components include the vitamin riboflavin for the battery's anode ("negative" end), and quercetin supplements as the cathode ("positive" end). The electrolyte (which generates the electric charge) is made of a water-based solution, and the separator (which prevents short circuits) is made of nori paper, which is the name for the seaweed you find in sushi restaurants.