A
sweat-powered battery could charge your mobile phone or MP3 player - while you
work out!
The
device, a temporary skin tattoo that produces an electrical current from the
lactate in your perspiration, was unveiled earlier this week by a team of
scientists from the University of San Diego.
So
how does a sweat-powered battery work?
A
sensor, no larger than a stamp, is embedded into a temporary tattoo sheet,
before being applied to your skin. The sensor contains an enzyme that strips
out electrons from a substance called lactate, a chemical contained in sweat.
This generates a weak electrical current, enough to charge a small battery.
The
amount of energy a person generates varies according to their fitness levels.
The fitter the person the less energy they will produce, since it takes their
body longer to produce lactate. Un-fit people who tire quickly produce more
lactate, and therefore provide more energy.
The
team didn't actually set out to build a bio-battery. Originally, the device was
designed to simply monitor lactate levels – something that previously required
a blood sample. Analysis of lactate levels can be used to evaluate how hard an
athlete’s body is working during training, or as an early indicator of heart or
lung disease. The team at the University of San Diego then took the sensor a
step further by adding an enzyme to generate a weak electrical current.
Although
this is the first time sweat has been used to generate electricity, it is not
the first attempt to harness the human body as an energy source. In 2011 Dr
Serge Cosnier built a device called a biofuel cell which uses glucose and
oxygen found in blood to generate electricity. The biofuel battery could be
used to power a range of medical implants, including a series of complex
artificial organs that are currently in development.
So
as non-renewable energy sources decrease, the answer to a future energy shortage
may be very simple… it could be you!
Watch Biofuels to discover another alternative method of producing energy.
