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UK Defence Scientists Working on Unique Bio-battery Tech
The pioneering technology has applications in society and the military, and could allow for a safe alternative to current, chemical-based versions.
New DNA bio-battery tech could provide a safer, greener solution to power generation and has potential applications across society.
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) scientists working on the tech say it could ‘change the world and change the way we do things’.
The project has been formed through a collaboration between Touchlight Genetics, the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) from the US Department of Defense, and the University of Utah.
Dstl’s Synthetic Biology Lead Petra Oyston commented that battery technology is a vital part of military defence, and there is a need for safe alternatives.
Current battery tech used by soldiers in the field produces energy from chemicals, and if shot in combat, could “explode and burst into flames,” Oyston said.
“Our bio-battery is made out of DNA, enzymes, lactate and water. If you shot it would just go splat so there’s a significant safety benefit.”
She added that the bio-battery tech was scalable and could take the form of large batteries, batteries too small to see or a completely new format such as a coating.
The concept behind the batteries is to use naturally occurring products. These are then degraded using enzymes, releasing electrons which are then captured and can be used as power.
ONRG Chief Scientist Patrick Rose added: “For defence, our warfighters continue to carry more and more electronics that require the power and that means carrying batteries with them.
“These batteries might provide a solution, a greener solution to generating power.
“It feels absolutely fantastic to be involved in these types of projects. The impact for defence as well as for society at large will be multi-fold.”
The DNA bio-battery tech can also be “dried down” and reconstituted when needed, Touchlight Genetics Head of Platforms Tom Adie said. Additionally, Touchlight technology is unique in the scale, speed and quality of DNA it produces.
“You have an incredibly energy-dense battery that can be carried very portably. It’s very light and you can reconstitute it anywhere: seawater, freshwater. So, you can carry it on ships; you can carry it in disaster areas,” Adie concluded.
The project, which started in 2017, is being funded by Dstl and ONRG. Touchlight Genetics are undertaking the work to produce the DNA at scale while the University of Utah are working on the enzyme optimisation and cascade evolution.
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Innovative battery technology is being developed across the UK, including in Scotland, and globally, not only to provide safer, more powerful alternatives but also to combat the effects of climate change.
In October last year, researchers from Brown University and the University of Maryland announced a tree-based material which could pave the way for “better, safer batteries” in the future. The material supposedly has the potential to replace liquid electrolytes in next-generation batteries, said the scientists.
Battery technology to power electric vehicles (EVs) is also being developed to power the next generation of road vehicles.
Researchers from University of St Andrews’ Eden Campus in Scotland have been working closely on joint projects with researchers and businesses across the UK to develop new battery and fuel cell technologies for EVs.
They are currently working together with the Faraday Institution in England to create sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion versions.
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