First Urine-Powered Battery

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers in Singapore have developed the first battery that generates electricity from urine. The battery is designed to fuel health care test kits. It would actually use urine as the power source for the testing device.

For years, scientists have been trying to develop "biochips" that give instant results after testing for various diseases at once and also be mass-produced cheaply. The new battery is being touted as just that.

Researchers at Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology created the disposable paper battery. Using 0.2 milliliters of urine, they generated a voltage of around 1.5 volts. The battery is a little bit smaller than a credit card.

Urine is widely used to test for numerous diseases and as an indicator of a person's general state of health. Researchers envision a world where people will easily be able to monitor their health at home using disposable test-kits that don't need lithium batteries or external power sources.

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SOURCE: Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 2005;15:S210-4