Scientists at Saint Louis University in Missouri say they've come up with a version of a fuel cell battery that can run on almost any source of sugar, from flat soda to tree sap, according to Wired magazine's blog.
The researchers say their battery gives three or four times more electricity per charge than standard lithium-ion cells. Their prototype version is a stamp-sized cell that runs a calculator, but the technology could easily by upsized to power mobile phones and laptops.
Commercial versions could be ready in three to five years.
As an added bonus, all the materials in the battery are biodegradable. “It demonstrates that by bridging biology and chemistry, we can build a better battery that’s also cleaner for the environment,” said electrochemist and project leader Shelley Minteer.
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