Colonies of microorganisms that feed on organic waste are at the heart of a new battery technology that could tap into the energy found in wastewater. Developed by researchers at Stanford Univ., the microbial battery consists of an anode made of a carbon current collector coated with microbes, a solid-state silver oxide cathode, and an electrolyte (e.g., carbohydrates and methane). A prototype device about the size of a D-cell battery achieved net efficiency of 49% - on par with the efficiency of existing solar cells. The microbial battery could potentially be used to remove biodegradable organics from domestic and industrial wastewaters.
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