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Sony scientists develop sugar-fuelled power pack

No low-cal versions in the pipeline though...

Sony's battery boffins seem to have learnt some lessons from the previous few month's, ahem, problems. They've developed a battery that generates power from sugar and, they claim, can create enough power to run an MP3 player.

The so-called "bio battery" generates electricity by mixing enzymes with a sugar solution. They break the sugar down into useable power, much like the process of converting food into energy in the human body.

Sony_sugar_battery
Sony's carbohydrate battery

Sony said that initial tests have shown the battery can create up to 50mW of power, which it said is currently the world's highest level of power generated by a passive-type bio battery. However, it kept quiet on how long the battery can power a device.

How does it work? The enzyme's action on the sugar - glucose, to be precise - pumps Hydrogen ions and electrons into the solution. The ions pass through a membrane - establishing the potential difference that drives the connected device - where they combine with oxygen from the air and electrons through the circuit to form water as a by-product.

Pictures show the battery arranged into interlocking cubes, each measuring 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.9cm, though it's still unclear how the batteries connect together and whether they are designed as reusable and interchangeable power packs.

Sony also claimed the battery is ecologically friendly and regenerative, because sugar is a naturally occurring substance.

However, the company couldn't say when the device might come to market. As you can see from the size, it's not going to replace rechargeables or double-As any time soon.

Sony's latest development is a world away from the so-called paper battery that hit the headlines earlier this month. It contains carbon nanotubes, which each act as an electrode, and are then embedded in a sheet of paper that's soaked in ionic liquid electrolytes, which then conduct the electricity.

Latest Comments

Secondary explosive...

Perhaps use a small Li-ion pack as a detonator?

OK, clutching at straws now!

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Don't worry about the Ammonium Nitrate..?!

Q will be most displeased.

So will Dr. Evil. *That* for global e-device extortion... Ah, well. On to the next soon-to-fail plot!

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Anonymous Coward

Don't worry about the Ammonium Nitrate

Ammonium Nitrate is a secondary explosive. It actually takes quite a bit to set it off even when it has been mixed with a sensitizer such as Fuel Oil 9the imfamus ANFO mixture).

Typically, it requires a military style blastic cap to detonate.

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Anonymous Coward

RE: Ooh! - it's natural.....

"What? like oil, arsenic, uranium, Ebola and hungry polar-bears.."

There's something bad about polar bears being hungry? Or are polar bears just bad period? Please let me know so i can be appropriately terrified for no reason.

All the things you listed are neither good nor bad until some idiot gets involved.

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HHGTTG

Can it run on a strong sweet cup of T ?

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