A paper-based bacteria-powered battery having high power generation

We report a microfabricated paper-based bacteria-powered battery generating 10 μW/cm². Only four batteries connected in series provided desired values of current and potential to power an LED for more than 30 minutes without power management interface circuits. The battery features (i) a low-cost paper-based proton exchange membrane directly patterned on commercially available parchment paper with laser treatment and (ii) paper reservoirs for holding the anolyte and the catholyte for extended period of time. Since sewage or soiled water in a puddle can become an excellent source for extracting bioelectricity through bacterial metabolism, this paper-based bacteria-powered battery is expected to be a simple, low-cost, and easy-to-use power source for single-use paper-based diagnostic devices in resource-limited settings.