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Related Concept Videos

Electrical Power01:07

Electrical Power

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Electric power is the product of current and voltage, represented in units of joules per second, or watts. For example, cars often have one or more auxiliary power outlets with which you can charge a cell phone or other electronic devices. These outlets may be rated at 20 amps and 12 volts, so that the circuit can deliver a maximum power of 240 watts. Consider a 25 Watt bulb and a 60 Watt bulb. The conversion of electrical energy produces heat and light, while the kinetic energy lost by the...
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Electrical Energy01:10

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Using electric appliances for a longer period of time consumes more electrical energy and results in a higher electric bill. The energy produced by the transfer of electrons from one point to another is known as electrical energy. If power is delivered at a constant rate, the electrical energy can be defined as the product of power used by the device for a period of time. The energy unit on electric bills is the kilowatt-hour, where one kilowatt-hour is equivalent to 3.6 × 106 joules.
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Induced Electric Fields01:23

Induced Electric Fields

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The fact that emfs are induced in circuits implies that work is being done on the conduction electrons in the wires. What can possibly be the source of this work? We know that it’s neither a battery nor a magnetic field, as a battery does not have to be present in a circuit where current is induced, and magnetic fields never do any work on moving charges. The source of the work is in fact an electric field that is induced in the wires. For example, if a stationary conductor is placed in a...
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A coaxial cable consists of a central copper conductor used for transmitting signals, followed by an insulator shield, a metallic braided mesh that prevents signal interference, and a plastic layer that encases the entire assembly.
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A conductor needs to be a component of a path that creates a closed loop or full circuit to have a continuous current flowing through it. A current starts to flow if an electric field is created inside an isolated conductor that is not part of a full circuit. The conductor quickly develops a net positive charge at one end and a net negative charge at the other. These charges generate an electric field opposite the direction of the applied electric field, which reduces the current. Eventually,...
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The Electrical Double Layer01:30

The Electrical Double Layer

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In the region where two bulk phases meet, an intricate electric charge distribution arises due to charge transfer, ion adsorption, molecular orientation, and charge distortion. This complex distribution is commonly referred to as the electrical double layer.When a solid electrode interfaces with ions in an electrolyte solution, the speed of electron transfer dictates the rates of oxidation and reduction. The electrode acquires a charge through the escape of atoms into the solution as cations or...
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Alternating Magnetic Field-Responsive Hybrid Gelatin Microgels for Controlled Drug Release
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An electric-eel-inspired soft power source from stacked hydrogels.

Thomas B H Schroeder1,2, Anirvan Guha2, Aaron Lamoureux3

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

Nature
|December 15, 2017
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a flexible, biocompatible power source inspired by electric eels. This artificial electric organ uses hydrogel membranes to generate electricity, potentially powering medical implants like pacemakers.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Bioelectronics

Background:

  • Integrating technology into living organisms requires novel power sources that are biocompatible, flexible, and harness biological energy.
  • Conventional batteries lack the necessary flexibility and biocompatibility for seamless integration with biological systems.
  • The electric eel's electric organ provides a biological model for efficient, in-vivo power generation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel, biocompatible, and flexible electrical power source inspired by the electric eel.
  • To explore the potential of hydrogel-based systems for generating power within biological environments.
  • To create a scalable power concept for next-generation implantable electronic devices.

Main Methods:

  • Designed an artificial electric organ using miniature polyacrylamide hydrogel compartments.
  • Utilized repeating sequences of cation- and anion-selective hydrogel membranes to create ion gradients.
  • Employed a scalable stacking or folding geometry for mechanical contact activation of thousands of gel compartments.

Main Results:

  • Generated 110 volts at open circuit and 27 milliwatts per square meter per gel cell.
  • Achieved simultaneous, self-registered mechanical contact activation of numerous gel compartments.
  • Demonstrated a soft, flexible, transparent, and potentially biocompatible power system.

Conclusions:

  • The artificial electric organ concept offers a promising alternative to conventional batteries for bio-integrated electronics.
  • This technology could enable the development of advanced implantable devices such as pacemakers and sensors.
  • The system's characteristics pave the way for novel hybrid living-non-living systems.