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Sometimes, as editors, you stumble upon news that raises an eyebrow. That one odd innovation, an unexpected effect of climate change or a feat of human clumsiness. Remarkable, in other words. This week: a new type of battery that uses hemoglobin, a main component of blood.
Hemoglobin gives blood its red color | Credit: Getty Images
The lithium-ion battery is a household name and can be found in virtually all consumer products with batteries. But as loyal
Red blood cells
Hemoglobin is the protein that allows red blood cells to distribute oxygen from the lungs throughout the body - and what gives red blood cells the color red. It binds very easily with oxygen. Researchers at the
Zinc-air batteries convert oxygen into water. This process releases electrons that are used to generate electrical energy. Hemoglobin acts as a catalyst in that chemical reaction. Zinc-air batteries are more sustainable compared to lithium-ion batteries: zinc is a much more easily extracted raw material that comes with less environmental pollution.
The battery the researchers created is still in the laboratory phase. It cannot yet be charged. The battery can only discharge, and did so for between 20 and 30 days. Partly because of the long discharge time, the scientists are positive about the research result. In the follow-up phase, the team will look into other biological proteins that can convert water back into oxygen, making the battery rechargeable.
Applications
The "blood battery" is potentially suitable for powering electronics inside the body. The battery can operate at a pH of 7.4 - similar to the acidity of blood. Also, unlike most other batteries, the battery can withstand humid environments well. Therefore, the researchers foresee applications in pacemakers, among other things.
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