Researchers at China’s Tianjin University of Technology have made a groundbreaking advancement with the development of an implantable and bio-compatible Na-O2 battery. This innovation could significantly transform the landscape of implantable medical devices by potentially eliminating the need for frequent invasive surgeries to replace depleted batteries in devices like pacemakers or neurostimulators. The findings of their study are detailed in an article published in Cell, titled “Implantable and bio-compatible Na-O2 battery.”
The team at Tianjin University aimed to create a self-sustaining battery for clinical applications, leveraging the body’s own oxygen and sodium to generate power, in contrast to traditional batteries that rely on sealed electrodes and electrolytes. They engineered the battery’s electrodes from a sodium-based alloy and nanoporous gold, enclosed within a flexible laminate covering. In a test, the battery was implanted into rats, and after two weeks, once capillaries had grown around the device, it was observed to produce stable voltages ranging from 1.3 V to 1.4 V, with a maximum power density of 2.6 µW/cm².
While the current version of the battery does not yet possess the power capacity for clinical device applications, the study’s authors consider it a proof-of-concept that demonstrates the feasibility of a body-oxygen-fueled battery capable of stable power output and biocompatibility. The next phase of their research will focus on enhancing the battery’s energy delivery capacity through the development of more efficient electrode materials and the optimization of the battery’s structure and design.- Flcube.com
