Argentinian scientists from the University of Cordoba have created a first-of-its-kind battery prototype using human blood hemoglobin as a catalyst for an electrochemical reaction. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Energy and Fuels (E&F).
Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells. It is responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to various tissues of the body and transporting carbon dioxide in the opposite direction.
The research team developed a harmless zinc-air battery in which a substance in the blood accelerates the oxygen reduction reaction. During the reaction, oxygen turns into water and releases electrons, which turns into water.
According to Manuel Luna, one of the authors of the invention, the prototype device containing 0.165 milligrams of hemoglobin worked for 20-30 days. The fact that such batteries are more resistant to adverse environmental conditions and biocompatible will allow them to be used safely in pacemakers and other devices implanted in the body.
The scientist noted that hemoglobin for promising batteries can be obtained from the blood of any mammal.
The main disadvantage of the development so far is that such batteries cannot be recharged. For this, another biological protein that will convert water back into oxygen must be selected. Additionally, these devices cannot be used in an airless environment.
Russian scientists before designed Large magnesium battery for the devices of the future.