Researchers at Tokyo University of Science Use Sweat as Biofuel

Wearable technology has been rapidly developing over the past years. With more interest over owning our health, these wearable gadgets such as smartwatches or fitness trackers have increased in popularity and it is now rare to see someone with a regular watch. It provides health monitoring and functionality, but every single brand has a different battery life and charger, and prices for smartwatches range from USD $20 to over $400.

Researchers at the Tokyo University of Science have discovered new technology that could allow for human sweat to serve as power generators for smart watches and other small gadgets. The Japanese scientists experimented with a biofuel cell that generates enough electric power from lactate chemicals in the human’s sweat to charge a device.

One reason why wearable technology can reach such high prices is because consumers now look for more sleek and thin devices: this behaviour is the same when searching for new phones and laptops. A big battery isn’t appealing to consumers, yet thin batteries aren’t ideal for durability. However, using sweat as biofuel could solve this issue, as there would be no need for thick space for the battery, and thus, no compromise on the size. 

By converting our sweat into biofuel, powering wearable tech devices could become much more accessible due to a price drop and would also provide an environmentally friendly way of charging the devices. Less batteries and chargers that become damaged or are no longer used, means less waste.

The biofuel cell discovered by the Japanese researchers is as small as a paper bandage that can be easily worn with the consumer’s smartwatch of choice. The cell or paper layers work through a capillary effect, transporting sweat to the device without direct contact. The paper bandage contains a hydrophobic layer that allows just enough sweat to process through the device. An electrochemical reaction occurs between the lactate and a specific enzyme, producing a current that is collected and transferred to the device.

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According to study leader Professor Isao Dr. Shitanda, “We managed to drive a commercially available activity meter for 1.5 hours using one drop of artificial sweat and our biofuel cells. We expect they should be capable of powering all sorts of devices, such as smart watches and other commonplace portable gadgets.”

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