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EMPA
What if a battery did not need charging, but feeding?
With this living, 3D-printed fungal battery, researchers at Empa’s Cellulose and Wood Materials laboratory present a radical rethinking of energy systems. Developed within a three-year research project supported by the Gebert Rüf Stiftung (Microbials program), this biodegradable microbial fuel cell generates electricity through the metabolism of living organisms.
Unlike conventional batteries, this system is entirely non-toxic and designed to return safely to the earth. It produces modest amounts of energy—yet enough to power temperature sensors for several days, offering real potential for agricultural monitoring and environmental research in remote locations.
At its core, the battery operates through a carefully orchestrated collaboration between two types of fungi. As explained by Emparesearcher Carolina Reyes, a yeast fungus at the anode releases electrons as it metabolizes nutrients, while a white rot fungus at the cathode produces enzymes that capture and transfer these electrons, completing the electrical circuit. For the first time, these two fungal systems have been combined into a functioning microbial fuel cell.
The innovation lies not only in biology, but also in fabrication. Under the direction of Gustav Nyström, Head of the Cellulose and Wood Materials laboratory, the team developed a cellulose-based printing ink in which living fungal cells are embedded. This enables precise 3D-printing of the battery structure, ensuring that microorganisms can access nutrients while maintaining electrical conductivity. The cellulose acts both as structural material and as a future nutrient source, allowing the battery to break itself down after use.
The batteries can be stored in a dry, inactive state and activated on-site simply by adding water and sugars. This interplay between dormancy and activation reflects the resilience of the living organisms within—yet also posed significant interdisciplinary challenges, bridging microbiology, electrochemistry and materials science.
For ROOTS, Sleeping Beauty embodies a fundamental shift: from extractive technologies to regenerative systems. Energy is no longer produced by depletion, but by collaboration between living entities. In this vision, materials are not passive—they grow, perform, and ultimately return to the soil.
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empa.com