Lithium-ion batteries with viruses

2009/04/08 Kortabitarte Egiguren, Irati - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Fisika
• Kimika

Development of technology for the manufacture of a battery with biomolecules. MIT researchers have produced lithium-ion batteries using a virus. Researchers have genetically modified the M13 virus to help “build” good conductors electrodes. To do this, the virus has been transformed to grow on the surface of the virus amorphous iron phosphate. This material itself is not a good driver. However, it is an appropriate material for batteries when handled at nanoscale. They have been designed so that the virus ends can be linked with carbon nanotubes. This network structure helps to better transport electricity between batteries.

This battery has a performance similar to that of the lithium-ion batteries on the market and can be charged and downloaded at least 100 times without being exhausted. In the future these electrodes may be incorporated into high-power batteries and can be used on both laptops and hybrid electric vehicles.

Image courtesy of: Yun Jung Lee and Dong Soo Yun