Scientists created a biofilm that turns sweat into electricity

University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers recently reported that they had developed a biofilm that could absorb evaporation energy and transform it into electricity. The wearable electronics industry may soon undergo a transformation thanks to this biofilm, which was just described in Nature Communications and could power everything from personal medical sensors to personal electronics. 

This is due to the fact that a genetically altered strain of the bacteria Geobacter sulfurreducens naturally produces this biofilm, a thin sheet of bacterial cells roughly the thickness of a sheet of paper. 

Electric devices have been powered by ‘microbial batteries’ made of G. sulfurreducens, which is known to create electricity. However, these batteries need care and a regular diet. This novel biofilm, which can produce as much energy as a batter of comparable size, if not more, functions and does so continually because it is dead, and feeding it is not necessary.

All of this is possible because G. sulfurreducens form colonies that resemble thin mats and each individual microbe communicates with its neighbours via inorganic nanowires. After collecting these mats, the team uses a laser to etch tiny circuits into the films. The films are then sealed in a soft, sticky breathable polymer that you may apply straight to your skin once they have been etched and sandwiched between electrodes. This tiny battery can power small devices once it has been ‘plugged’ into your body. 

The next stage is to make the films bigger so they can power more advanced skin-wearable devices.