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Biohybrid Energy Storage Circuits Based on Electronically Functionalized Plant Roots
Daniela Parker1, Abdul Manan Dar1, Adam Armada-Moreira1,2
1Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, Norrköping SE-60174, Sweden.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|March 5, 2024
Summary
Researchers created plant-based biohybrid circuits using functionalized conducting roots to enhance energy storage. These root supercapacitors can be wired in series or parallel, offering improved voltage and capacitance for sustainable electronics.
Area of Science:
- Biohybrid systems
- Plant-based electronics
- Sustainable energy storage
Background:
- Biohybrid systems integrate plant structures with technology for sustainability.
- Plant biocatalysis enables electronic material organization in living plants, creating biohybrid electrochemical devices.
- Existing plant-based supercapacitors have limited capacitance and voltage output.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop biohybrid circuits using functionalized conducting roots to improve plant-based energy storage performance.
- To demonstrate series and parallel configurations of root supercapacitors.
- To showcase the potential for sustainable powering of low-consumption devices.
Main Methods:
- Functionalization of plant roots to create conducting pathways.
- Integration of functionalized roots into supercapacitor circuits.
- Configuring root supercapacitors in series and parallel arrangements.
- Charging the circuits using organic photovoltaic cells.
- Powering bioelectronic devices and electrochromic displays.
Main Results:
- Achieved up to 1.5 V voltage output in series configurations.
- Reached up to 11 mF capacitance in parallel configurations.
- Demonstrated successful charging with an organic photovoltaic cell.
- Showcased the ability to power an electrochromic display and a bioelectronic device.
- Confirmed that functionalized roots biodegrade similarly to native roots.
Conclusions:
- Biohybrid circuits based on functionalized conducting roots significantly extend the performance of plant-based energy storage.
- These systems offer a sustainable approach for powering low-consumption devices, including agricultural bioelectronics and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
- The technology presents a viable, eco-friendly alternative for future bioelectronic applications.
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