The development of batteries marked a turning point in technological advancement, enabling numerous benefits without which life today would be almost unimaginable. In the past, batteries were used only for simple devices, such as remote controls; however, their application expanded quickly. Today, batteries not only power our electronic devices but have become an essential element in the development of ecological transport, from scooters and bicycles to cars and airplanes. However, their widespread use also brings challenges related to sustainability and environmental impact.
That’s why researchers are seeking more sustainable solutions, and one such approach comes from Switzerland. At the Empa laboratory, scientists are developing ‘living’ batteries that use microorganisms from the fungi kingdom as the basis for generating electricity. What makes them even more environmentally friendly is their ability to decompose naturally after completing their function.
How Mushroom-Based Batteries Work
Traditional batteries generate energy through chemical reactions, whereas these biodegradable batteries rely on the metabolic processes of fungi. Essentially, the idea is based on what fungi do in nature, like many other microorganisms – they convert nutrients into energy.
Researchers at the Empa laboratory used two types of fungi to produce their batteries – yeast and white-rot fungi – and both proved to be highly effective. To better understand this, it’s essential to note that every battery consists of a cathode and an anode, the components through which electrons flow in and out. In this context, yeast is placed on the anode side because, during its metabolism. At the same time, it consumes sugars, just as it does when making bread or beer, and it releases electrons, which then travel through an external circuit and generate electricity. What’s essential is for that current not to disappear, but to keep circulating. That’s exactly the role of the white rot fungus, which is located on the other side – the cathode. This fungus has the ability to capture electrons, thereby closing the electrical circuit and allowing the current to circulate continuously.
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Unlike conventional batteries, which require metals like lithium, often toxic to the environment and difficult to recycle, mushroom-based batteries are completely nontoxic and biodegradable. When their lifespan ends, these batteries do not become hazardous waste – on the contrary, they decompose naturally and can even be beneficial to the soil. Fungi, after all, have the ability to break down organic materials such as cellulose and convert them into nutrients for the soil.
3D Printing
What makes these batteries additionally innovative is the use of 3D printing in their development. This technology enables researchers to design the battery in a manner that provides fungi with easier access to nutrients and makes the structure adaptable to specific conditions. For instance, the batteries can contain specific nutrients that enable fungi to survive in dry environments, if they are to be used in areas with limited water access.
It is also important to note that the materials used to produce the battery are entirely biodegradable, since the 3D printing is done using cellulose-based material – a natural substance derived from plants. This enables the battery to fully decompose in nature after use, leaving no harmful residue.
Although such batteries are not yet powerful enough to operate larger electronic devices, the amount of energy they produce is sufficient, for example, to power sensors used in agriculture and environmental research, and for several days at that. Researchers continue to work on improving this solution, aiming to increase both power and durability.
A technology that doesn’t harm nature but instead contributes to it does more than bring innovation – it changes our perception of what progress and success truly mean. Nature once again reminds us that it already holds everything we need. All that is required from humans is to learn from it and act in accordance with its laws. When the natural cycle is properly applied in technology, we obtain solutions that are sustainable and circular, without leaving an unwanted environmental footprint.
Prepared by Katarina Vuinac
The story was published in Energy portal Magazine PURE ENERGY
