Zoomi Life

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Biomolecular Materials Group is advancing techniques of using engineered viruses to build batteries. Or at least, battery electric storage components.

The genetically engineered viruses first coat themselves with iron phosphate and then grab carbon nanotubes to create networks of high conductive material. MIT is calling this “bio-industrial” manufacturing.  Assembling molecules by using biological agents is considered the next generation of industrial engineering and using it to “evolve” key energy components like cathodes and membranes for batteries and fuel cells is the frontier of this process.

Professors Angela Belcher and Michael Strano led the breakthrough that allows this new process to build both the positively and negatively charged ends of a li-ion battery.  The technique was based on a typical “coin cell battery,” but they believe it can be scaled for thin film applications.

The scientists have no comment on when this could be used on a large scale, but it’s possible that this is inside the next decade.  This could be what propels the struggling battery industry into a position to better accomodate the needs of long-range electric vehicles. Whether that be through pure battery storage or through improved (and cheaper) hydrogen fuel cells.

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