At KPIT Sparkle 2018, Ramya Veerubhotla from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur represented a one-member ‘Team Electrodes’, which developed a bacteria-powered flexible and disposable battery using eyeliner coated paper electrodes.
INTRODUCTION
Wastewater consists of organic matter and bacteria and separating microbes from wastewater is energy-intensive and tedious. Wastewater is considered a menace by various industries and Team Electrodes conducted a research on exploiting energy from it to power portable needs. Exploiting energy from wastewater, in terms of electricity, is usually done by microbial fuel cells. However, these microbial fuel cells constitute bulky chambers and expensive membranes limiting the portability.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The challenge for Team Electrodes was to fabricate a disposable, low-cost microbial fuel cell as well as use electrodes that are readily available and handy. The one member team of Ramya Veerubhotla addressed the first challenge by fabricating the device using paper that is biodegradable, foldable (hence compact, when multiple devices are connected) and versatile. Team Electrodes dealt with the other challenge by using eyeliner for the first time to fabricate electrodes.
Ramya Veerubhotla took a year and half to study the composition thoroughly as well as identify the components in the eyeliner that is responsible for conductivity (amorphous carbon). Team Electrodes synthetically prepared it in the lab and arrived at the conclusion that it is feasible to fabricate a paper battery using eyeliner based electrodes.
Portable energy harnessing devices are integral to power supply of various electronic devices, medical implants, etc. These devices, when made on a paper platform, offer various advantages such as low cost, multi-functionality, versatility, flexibility and disposability. However, since electrodes are a crucial part in these devices, the tedious and multiple steps involved in the fabrication of electrodes currently limit the application of these devices.
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