The bio-battery is made of microbes and plants and generates an electric current using two electrodes. On one electrode (the positively charged electrode), electrons move as a result of processes in plant and bacterial cells. At the same time, water is released on the second electrode (the negatively charged electrode).
Tula University reported that the plant and microbes form a miniature power station operating through natural biochemical reactions. These “batteries” are called microbial plant fuel cells. Often, the cathode reaction is what slows down the entire system, affecting its efficiency.
Scientists proposed a more cost-effective material to process oxygen and convert it into water, increasing energy output by one and a half times. The scientists added that the plant-based system could be used in warm climate areas where there is an issue with clean water availability.
The study concluded that after laboratory tests, the lab team will focus on scaling up the resulting system and testing it in conditions close to real-world scenarios.
