Sony Develops New Sugar Battery

Sony has announced yesterday it has developed a biological battery fueled by sugar. Unlike other similar batteries, Sony says it has achieved the world's highest power output for passive-type bio batteries.

Using carbohydrates and enzymes to create power, the battery shown on the left hand-side of the picture, has reached a power output of 50 milliwatts. “The output of these test cells is sufficient to power music play back on a memory-type Walkman,” states a Sony news release. As previously reported on DJ, other groups have been researching the energetic potential of sugar for use as batteries, but unlike other prototypes, Sony’s is more compact and contains new cathodes developed for more efficiency. “The new cathode structure […] efficiently supplies oxygen to the electrode while ensuring that the appropriate water content is maintained. Optimizing the electrolyte for these two technologies has enabled these power output levels to be reached”, explained Sony. The bio battery casing is made of vegetable-based plastic and designed in the image of a biological cell. The new battery was presented here have at the 234th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition in Boston, MA USA, last Wednesday. Sony's statement made no mention as to when it plans on putting this new battery on the market.