There are more and more devices which allow you to monitor the health of people in real time. Most act externally, although some tend to be implanted. But no matter how small they are, surgery is required to place them in the body. The ideal would be to create devices that can be eaten, and, in fact, this is something that has been studied for a long time. It’s about edible electronics.
These are electronic devices that can be taken apart and digested after they have served their purpose. Logically they should be built with non-toxic materials. Materials commonly used in electronics such as silicon, magnesium and copperabout safe such low doses which will not be enough to start the device. For this reason, edible electronics are based primarily on food grade materials.
Batteries are a big problem in this aspect. But, fortunately, a group of scientists from Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) managed to create one in which all its components can be found in the recipe.
It’s a stack to eat
The battery works thanks to electron flow, which flow from the electrode where they are released, called the anode, to another that captures them, known as the cathode. That is, there is a reaction Reduced oxidation, in which one substance is oxidized, losing electrons, and the other is restored, gaining them. This type of reaction is very common in foods, so the authors of a study published in Advanced Materials They decided to start by studying these types of processes.
So they found what would be its anode and its cathode. The first one is made from vitamin B2which can be obtained from almond. As for the cathode, the chosen substance quercetinwhich is located in capers.
On the other hand, batteries must have an electrolyte through which these electrons circulate in order to get from one side to the other. In this case use waterbut also added Activated carbon to increase electrical conductivity. It is sold as an over-the-counter drug in some places and is present in many purported detox products. It should be noted that these products are generally a scam, since diet is not necessary for detoxification, and also that it is not good to abuse activated charcoal. However, in doses added to this edible electronics stack, No problem.
Finally, as a delimiter, to avoid short circuits, we add nori seaweed, the same as used for making sushi. All this is included in beeswax and outside there are two contacts, like batteries. In this case, from food goldlike the one used in confectionery.
What is edible electronics for?
Edible electronics can be very useful for performances diagnosis of diseases of the digestive system somewhat minimally invasive. The patient eats the sensor, he makes the appropriate measurements and then digested. also can be used for administer the medicine in the body and release them in very specific places. Or even for monitor food quality. Since it is completely edible, the sensor can be left in the product. no problem.
Now that there is a battery to power this edible electronics, it will be much easier to manage. But that is not all.
The authors of this new study believe their battery could be used, for example, to make toys. Accidental swallowing of batteries is very dangerous. Many children may even die from it. Therefore, if batteries with extremely toxic components were completely edible, this serious problem would be eliminated.
Also, while this battery won’t be used to power large electrical devices like cars, it could inspire new batteries made from more environmentally friendly materials in the future. How many less lithium better. And if it gets eaten, we all win.
Source: Hiper Textual
