Scientists Powering Batteries with Soda, Tree Sap 216
BobB writes "St. Louis University researchers have concocted batteries fueled by almost any kind of sugar, from tree sap to flat soda, and that could be used to power everything from computers to cell phones. Their thinking: If sugar can jack up the human body, why not electronics?"
Better link (Score:3, Informative)
Question: If the fuel cell contains enzymes, couldn't a 2-stage fuel cell be created that has cellulases, thus making waste switchgrass/etc. a potential direct fuel? Why would we need to even bother with cellulosic ethanol then? Or is this even possible?
Re:2.59/battery, anyone? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Obvious: (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Sounds like a problem waiting to happen (Score:3, Informative)
I've said it before and I'll say it again, even with the -1 redundant it will incur.
SEALED CONTAINERS. Last I've checked, outside of a chem lab I've never seen an open-container battery.
Re:Better link (Score:4, Informative)
Re:My clock runs off a potato. (Score:2, Informative)
So not so much informative as misleading.
Re:2.59/battery, anyone? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Skepticism (Score:1, Informative)
Granted, sugar powered (alcohol powered, gas powered etc etc) fuel cells are old news. They've been able to make these little buggers for years. However, the hard part is making them cheap and reliable. I wish them luck.
Re:Obvious: (Score:2, Informative)
Re:My thinking: (Score:3, Informative)
Well, this kind, for one [wikipedia.org]. Enzymatic fuel cells working on sugar are the norm for pacemakers, with close competition in radioactive batteries. We've had them working since 1981.
How uneducated do you have to be to write an article about alternative power storage technologies in which you write (something parent didn't know about) ?
Apparently not very. Generally it's not a good idea to pretend to be an expert in things with which you are not familiar.