June 23, 2025 (CE Noticias Financieras) –
Researchers at the
In the kingdom of fungi all kinds of life forms can be found: from edible beings to molds; from unicellular 'creatures' to some of the largest organisms on Earth; from disease-causing pathogens to 'superheroes' capable of producing medicines, they point out from Empa.
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Researchers at this Swiss center have discovered another capacity in fungi, that of generating electricity, and are taking advantage of it to develop a new type of battery, which in addition to being 'fungal and living', is biodegradable (which decomposes in a timely manner by the action of biological agents and environmental conditions) and is printed with 3D technology, which simplifies and speeds up its manufacture.
The greatest advantage of the functional fungal battery, developed by Empa's Cellulose and Wood Materials laboratory, is that, unlike conventional batteries, it is not only completely non-toxic, but also biodegradable, according to the researchers.
LIVING CELLS GENERATE ELECTRICITY
They explain that "the living cells of this battery do not produce much electricity, but enough to power a temperature sensor, such as those used in agriculture or environmental research, for several days".
This battery is based on a technology called "microbial fuel cell", which takes advantage of the capacity of living beings (microorganisms, in this case) to convert nutrients into energy, capturing part of this energy in the form of electricity.
Until now, this type of cell has been powered mainly by bacteria, but Empa researchers have "combined, for the first time, two types of fungi to create a functional fuel cell," according to
TWO TYPES OF FUNGI IN THE ELECTRODES
The metabolisms (set of cellular chemical reactions) of the two fungal species complement each other, she points out.
At the anode (positive electrode) of the battery is a yeast whose metabolism releases electrons, while its cathode (negative electrode) is colonized by a white-rot fungus, which produces a special enzyme that allows it to capture electrons (particles with a negative electrical charge) and conduct them out of the cell.
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Reyes explains that "the fungi are not 'planted' in the battery, but are an integral part of the cell from the beginning."
The components of the fungal battery are manufactured using 3D printing, which allows the researchers to structure the electrodes in such a way that the microorganisms can access the nutrients as easily as possible by mixing the fungal cells with the printing material.
"It has been very difficult to find a material in which the fungi grow well and at the same time can easily pass through the nozzle of the 3D printer without destroying the fungal cells, and which is also electrically conductive and biodegradable," confesses Gustav Nyström, head of Empa's Cellulose and Wood Materials laboratory.
Thanks to his lab's extensive experience in 3D printing soft materials of biological origin, the researchers succeeded in producing a suitable material based on cellulose, a fundamental substance of plant cells and fiber.
"Fungal cells can even use cellulose as a nutrient, thus contributing to the decomposition of the battery after use, but their preferred source of nutrients are simple sugars, which are added to the battery cells," explains Nyström.
"Fungal batteries can be stored dry and activated in situ simply by adding water and nutrients," adds Reyes.
Although robust fungi survive these dry phases, working with living materials posed several challenges for the researchers, who now plan to increase the power and lifetime of the fungal battery, as well as to search for other types of fungi suitable for electricity supply.
"Fungi are still under-researched and under-utilized, especially in the field of materials science," agree Reyes and Nyström.
HIGHLIGHTS:
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- The living cells of the fungal battery produce enough electricity to power temperature sensors used, for example, in agriculture or environmental research for several days, explain the Swiss specialists.
- The fungal battery produces small amounts of electricity from two types of fungi; it feeds on both cellulose and simple sugars; and it can be stored dry and activated by adding water and nutrients, according to Empa.
By Ricardo Segura EFE-Reportajes.
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