Researchers develop battery for tiny robots

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a tiny zinc-air battery that can power robots that are just as big as human cells. The goal is to administer drugs in a targeted manner in the body.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently developed a tiny battery that is designed to power cell-sized robots. These robots could be used by doctors in medicine to deliver drugs to specific areas of the human body. They could also be used to identify leaks in gas pipes, for example.

The new battery is just 0.1 millimeters long and 0.002 millimeters thick. That's about the thickness of a human hair or the size of a grain of sand. It uses oxygen from the air to oxidize zinc and thereby generate an electrical voltage of up to one volt. This energy is enough to drive small circuits, sensors or actuators.

Cell-sized robots gain autonomy through zinc-air battery

One of the biggest problems in developing such microrobots is the power supply. While other approaches rely on solar energy, this solution is often impractical because the robots often move in dark areas. With the new zinc-air battery, however, they could achieve greater autonomy.

The battery has a high energy density and is characterized by a long service life. It consists of a zinc electrode connected to a platinum electrode. The electrodes are also embedded in a polymer strip. When these electrodes react with oxygen molecules, the zinc oxidizes and an electric current is generated.

Operation of various devices already possible

In initial tests, the researchers were able to show that the battery provides enough energy to move a robot arm. It could also operate a memristor, which stores electrical resistance, and a circuit for measuring time. It was also possible to operate sensors that change their electrical conductivity when they come into contact with certain chemicals.

The researchers are now working on increasing the voltage range of the battery to enable even more versatile applications. In the future, it will be integrated directly into robots so that they can work completely autonomously.

In the long term, the researchers plan to develop robots that doctors can inject into the human body, for example, to deliver targeted medication. These robots could then be made of biocompatible materials that decompose after use.

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