Heard of papertronics? Papertronics may be just what the IoT has been looking for to provide low cost power to end point devices. In a nutshell, papertronics offer electrical engineers not just significant cost savings, but also provides the benefits of flexibility, sustainability and eco-friendliness, without compromising necessary mechanical, dielectrical, and fluidic properties.
Seokheun Choi, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the State University of New York at Binghamton, along with some of his colleagues have created a paper-based, single-use battery that relies on bacteria to generate an electric current. The bacteria also acts as an agent in the self-disposal process of the battery at the end of its useful life.
Suddenly, office paper is turning heads. Well, at least as far as electronics and batteries are concerned.
The explosive growth of miniaturized electronics and batteries to power everything from ingestible healthcare devices to sensors for intelligent transportation is driving innovation in how those devices are designed, and raising concerns over their environmental impact.