A Biodegradable High-Performance Microsupercapacitor for Environmentally Friendly and Biocompatible Energy Storage

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Energy Storage
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Biodegradable and biocompatible microscale energy storage is essential for sustainable microelectronics and implantable medical devices.
• Current biodegradable options often lack sufficient performance for practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-performance biodegradable and biocompatible microsupercapacitor (BB-MSC).
• To demonstrate the device's suitability for environmentally friendly electronics and medical applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a three-dimensional (3D) printing technique with biodegradable materials.
• Engineered a 3D-interconnected electrode structure and optimized electrolyte design.

Main Results:

• Achieved a wide operation voltage of 1.8 V and high areal specific capacitance of 251 mF/cm².
• Demonstrated good cycle stability and functionality at low temperatures (-20 °C).
• Confirmed smooth degradation in soil over ~90 days and biocompatibility in SD rats.

Conclusions:

• The developed BB-MSC offers superior performance compared to existing biodegradable devices.
• The 3D-printed BB-MSC is reliable, practical, and environmentally friendly for microelectronics and medical uses.
• This work provides a pathway for designing sustainable microscale energy storage solutions.