A paper battery powered by electron-harvesting bacteria could one day power environmentally friendly disposable devices, British media say.

According to a report on the website of the British "New Scientist" magazine on August 19, researchers have been studying paper sensors and circuit boards for many years, but what provides energy for them is traditional batteries or simple chemical reactions. Yang Gao and Xixin Cui of the State University of New York at Binghamton have invented a paper battery powered by bacteria to do the job.

According to reports, the battery is made of wax paper with thin layers of metal and polymer to accommodate bacteria and collect electrons. The type of bacteria used, called electrotrogens, pull electrons out of the molecules they eat and transfer them outside the cell.

The report also said that the battery is freeze-dried to keep the bacteria in a dormant state, and also comes with a small bag of liquid bacterial food. When the battery is squeezed, the liquid revives the bacteria, and they begin eating the food in the bag.

Through a series of reactions, electrons from the food are transferred through the bacteria, eventually being absorbed into batteries and powering small devices.

The research team presented their results at the American Chemical Society meeting in Boston on August 19.

Gao Yang said that currently, it can only be used to power very low-power devices, such as a small calculator or LED lights. But he and Cui Xixin hope that one day this kind of battery can be used in medical technology, such as pregnancy tests, which currently use traditional batteries that are not environmentally friendly enough.

Gao Yang said: "If we can provide power without using traditional batteries, then those devices may be cheaper and more environmentally friendly."

According to reports, the battery has a shelf life of about 4 months and can provide power for up to two days. Gao Yang says they're not quite ready for use yet, and for most practical uses they'll need to provide much greater amounts of power, something he and his colleagues are currently working on. He said stringing several paper batteries in series by stacking them might help.

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