The team believes this development could be a useful step forward for medical implants, environmental sensors, and disposable devices that only need power for a few minutes or hours. Instead of leaving behind waste, these biobatteries are designed to simply disappear after use.
What are transient electronics?
Transient electronics are devices made to work temporarily and then break down naturally. They are used in situations where collecting the device after use would be difficult, unsafe, or unnecessary.
For example, a medical sensor could be placed inside the body to collect data and then dissolve when it’s no longer needed. Or a single-use environmental monitor could track pollution levels in a remote area and disappear without polluting the environment itself.
To make these devices fully transient, they also need power sources that disappear – and that’s where this research comes in.
Power from probiotics
Traditional microbial batteries use bacteria to create electricity. These microbes break down nutrients and release electrons, which are used to generate power. However, many of these bacteria are not safe to release into the body or environment – they can cause infections or interfere with natural ecosystems.
In this study, ‘Dissolvable Probiotic-Powered Biobatteries: Safe andBiocompatible Energy Solution for Transient Applications’ the researchers used probiotic bacteria instead as these are safe, commonly used bacteria already found in food and health products. The battery contains a blend of 15 probiotic strains.
Once the probiotics are activated – usually by moisture or acidity – they start digesting available nutrients and produce electricity in the process. This is the first time probiotics have been shown to reliably generate power in this way.
How the biobattery is made
The battery is built on water-soluble paper, which dissolves when wet. A layer of probiotics is combined with special electrode materials to help boost electricity production. The researchers used a conductive polymer (polypyrrole) and zinc oxide nanoparticles for the anode, and Prussian Blue mixed with manganese dioxide for the cathode. All of these materials were chosen for their safety, biodegradability, and ability to break down over time.
The battery is printed or drawn onto the paper using wax and graphite, making the manufacturing process simple and low-cost. It can even be adjusted to change how long it operates – from around four minutes up to over 100 minutes – by changing the length of the battery’s internal paths.
To stop the battery from activating too early (such as during storage or transport), it can be coated in a pH-sensitive membrane. This means it will only start working in specific acidic environments – such as inside the stomach or in polluted water.
What does it do?
Each battery can generate a small amount of power – around 4μW – which is enough for low-power electronics like temporary sensors or wireless signals. Once activated, the battery powers a device and then gradually breaks apart. The probiotics are safely released, and the rest of the materials dissolve completely.
Because the power source is biodegradable and made from safe materials, it removes the need for recycling, incineration, or surgical removal – which are often required with traditional electronics or batteries.
What the findings tell us
The team showed that probiotic bacteria can, in fact, produce electricity. Although the power is modest, it’s enough for many short-term, low-energy applications. They also demonstrated that the battery can be triggered in a controlled way and that it completely dissolves in acidic environments.
Tests showed that the battery materials – including the electrodes – safely break down, and the probiotics remain active during the process. The device’s performance and lifetime can be tuned by adjusting its size, coating, and materials.
The project opens the door to more sustainable and biocompatible power solutions for transient electronics, especially in the fields of healthcare and environmental science. And in today’s world, where e-waste is a major concern, could these batteries be the start of a green revolution?
Image credit: Birmingham University
