|
Technology
Bringing technology news from around Berkshire |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
A Sugar-Powered Battery from Sony
Combining cutting-edge technology with a sustainable energy sources seems to be the order of the day for large scale manufacturers these days. Only last week, Ford announced a system which can turn paint fumes into electricity. Meanwhile Sony have been developing a bio-battery that runs on glucose and can generate enough current to power a Walkman.
Like Ford’s ‘Fumes to Electricity’ system, Sony’s bio-battery represents another world first. In this case, the battery produces the highest output for a passive-type battery in the world, generating a record 50 milliwatt power output.
How does it work? Essentially the technology involves around the breaking down of sugar using enzymes as the catalyst. The resulting battery is known as ‘passive’ – where reactive substances like glucose and oxygen are absorbed into the electrodes by natural diffusion rather than force. Like traditional batteries, the flow of electrons through the cathode and anode provides the power.
It all sounds simple enough, but developing the battery entailed much behind-the-scenes research and experimentation. For example, Sony had to create a new cathode structure which manages to efficiently supply oxygen to the electrode while ensuring that enough water content is maintained.
As a sustainable and clean energy source, the battery offers much potential, as sugar is produced naturally by plants through photosynthesis.
www.businessinberkshire.co.uk/technology
| DOWNLOAD | | [ A Sugar-Powered Battery from Sony ] |
|
|
