Paper-based devices have recently emerged as a simple, environmentally friendly and low-cost paradigm for fluid manipulation and analytical/clinical testing. Paper has many distinct advantages that make it especially suitable for point-of-care and point-of-use testing in low-resource settings. However, there are significant challenges in developing paper-based devices at a system level that contains an integrated, paper-based power source. The paper-based power source is essential to creating an all paper-based system that can work independently and self-sustainably. The purpose of this work is to create a stackable and integrative, three-dimensional (3-D), paper-based biobattery for on-chip paper-based devices. The project fuses the art of origami and the technology of MFCs and has the potential to shift the paradigm for flexible and stackable paper-based batteries by enabling, through their architecture and design, exceptional electrical characteristics and functionalities. These devices will be capable of generating electrical power with one drop of bacteria-containing liquid. The devices use carbon anode, reservoir and activated carbon-based air-cathode on paper as their basis. Upon testing, closed stack was opened to expose all the air-cathodes. The significant increase in the open circuit voltage was observed and reached the saturated value of approximately 2.2V. The paper based devices was able to generate enough electricity to power up an LED light bulb.

Origami paper-based microbial fuel cell

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.