Scientists Implant Electricity-Producing Biofuel Cell into Rat

rat.jpgThe Army is searching for a portable, rechargeable power source for its soldiers. In the future, they could consider using the soldiers themselves.

This future just got a bit closer: scientists at Joseph Fourier University in Grenoble, France have successfully implanted a glucose biofuel cell into a rat. The cell can generate electricity from chemicals available in the body.

The report, published in peer-reviewed journal PLoS ONE, describes how the cell uses the reaction between glucose and oxygen to produce electricity. Ideally, the cell could power artificial organs or pacemakers. However, as yet the cell has only been able to produce 6.5 microwatts of power; a pacemaker requires 10 microwatts and an artificial kidney requires 20. Still, its creators are optimistic that future versions could produce more power.

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