Bioresorbable Primary Battery Anodes Built on Core-Double-Shell Zinc Microparticle Networks

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Bioresorbable implantable electronics require safe, temporary power sources.
• Existing power sources often lack controlled degradation and electrical output.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a bioresorbable zinc primary battery anode filament.
• To achieve controllable electrical output and lifetime for transient electronics.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a zinc microparticle (MP) network coated with chitosan and Al2O3 double shells.
• Discharge testing in 0.9% NaCl saline to evaluate voltage, current, and lifetime.
• Investigation of lifetime tunability based on filament length and power scaling strategies.

Main Results:

• A stable voltage output of 0.55 V at 0.01 mA was achieved with a Zn MP filament.
• Directional dissolution and tunable lifetime, linear to filament length, were demonstrated.
• A 15 mm filament achieved 200 hours of stable discharge; power output was scalable.

Conclusions:

• The developed bioresorbable zinc filament offers a promising power source for transient implantable devices.
• Controllable lifetime and power output are achievable through material design and configuration.
• This technology facilitates the advancement of temporary electronic implants.