Technologies
Sugar a new power source for batteries
By Sue Mueller
Aug 24, 2007 - 5:41:48 PM

Friday August 24, 2007 (Foodconsumer.org) -- Sony Corp announced that it has developed a new battery based on sugar solution, which can produce 50 milliwatts, the highest level for a small bio-battery.

The power is enough to drive the Japanese electronics maker's Walkman digital music player, according to Sony, which is still working to improve the battery's performance and durability.

The electricity is produced by degradating glucose in water with the catalysis of an enzyme.   Sony said the battery should be environmentally friendly as glucose is a photosynthesized natural substance and a reviewable energy resource.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. has also been working to develop a sugar-based battery, news media reported.

A bio-battery like this type is believed to potentially produce three to 10 times more power than lithium ion batteries, a researchers was cited as saying.