Energy production and storage using biological ion transport systems

Introduction

This project aims to create a “green” energy storage system that integrates a biological voltage source with a biological supercapacitor to achieve large energy and power capacities in a lightweight sustainable packaging.

Concept of Biological Engineering

The project re-defines the concept of “biological engineering” to be one that utilizes proteins, molecules, and lipids in combination with synthetic materials to assemble the smart micro/nanostructured energy storage system.

Advantages of Biological Engineering

There are at least four advantages to this “biological engineering” approach, including:

1. The capability for self-assembly
2. The easy scalability that follows from using self-assembly
3. The easy assembly into 3D structures
4. Up to 1000-fold less energy requirements for switching functions compared to state-of-the-art ENODe systems

Overcoming Limitations

Moreover, the use of biological components can overcome limitations of existing battery technology by:

• Improving the ecological footprint and environmental sustainability
• Enhancing lifetime, reliability, and safety

System Assembly

The system will be assembled as an array of interconnected vesicles to form a compartmental system to control ion gradients established by co-transport proteins incorporated in the interconnecting vesicle membranes.

Functionality

The system utilizes the ion gradient to sustain a stable voltage output and acts as a supercapacitor to store energy. The stable voltage output and supercapacitor function are sustained from ion gradients and not catalytic electrochemical reactions.

Integrated Design

Since the system will function both as a generator and an energy accumulator, we anticipate power management would require an integrated design, rather than a discrete design used for traditional source/supercapacitor systems.

Testing Energy Capabilities

The energy capabilities will be tested by packaging the system to provide power for an illustrative device that is either:

• A typical nomadic device (e.g. smartphone)
• A typical implantable medical device (e.g. cardiac pacemaker)
• A typical ambulatory device (e.g. drone)