Latest news with #FederalLaboratoriesforMaterialsScienceandTechnology
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Your next eco-friendly battery could be made from mushrooms, and it might eat your trash when it's done
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Mycelium might power electronics someday, if it stops biodegrading before the job is done The split-gill mushroom's extracellular matrix may be the key to future green batteries Scientists dream of compostable batteries, but controlling fungal behavior remains a major challenge Researchers from Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, are exploring the potential of fungal mycelium to create a compact, biodegradable battery. Their goal is to use mycelium to produce 'fungal paper' for battery electrodes - a concept that, according to researcher Ashutosh Sinha, remains in the experimental phase. 'We want to produce a compact, biodegradable battery whose electrodes consist of a living 'fungal paper,'' Sinha states, emphasizing that this vision is still a dream for now. The idea of a biodegradable battery made from living materials is ambitious. The team is working with the mycelium of the split-gill mushroom, a fungus known for its unique mechanical and biological properties. This fungus is naturally biodegradable and, when combined with its extracellular matrix, produces a material with promising potential for sustainable applications in technology. The aim is to develop a system that decomposes without releasing harmful waste - unlike conventional electronic devices - by using the natural properties of the material. Empa researchers are now examining how the tensile strength of mycelium and its sensitivity to moisture can be applied in components like biodegradable sensors and batteries. Working with living materials brings notable challenges. Mycelium's biodegradable nature is both an advantage and a limitation. On one hand, it could significantly reduce the environmental impact of batteries. On the other, its tendency to degrade raises concerns about its longevity and reliability in electronic devices. Living materials also respond to their environments, making it difficult to predict or control their behavior consistently. 'Biodegradable materials always react to their environment. We want to find applications where this interaction is not a hindrance but maybe even an advantage,' said Empa's Gustav Nyström. The idea of a compact, biodegradable battery with fungal paper electrodes remains conceptual, and one of the biggest challenges will be refining the material to meet performance standards required in modern electronics. Nevertheless, it represents a promising step toward more sustainable and environmentally conscious electronics. Ten years of OSSRA: what a decade of data tells us about the state of open source security A third of enterprises have been breached despite increased cybersecurity investment GlobalX airline is helping Trump deportations hit by cyberattack
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Artificial muscles for robots brought closer to reality with 3D-printed actuators
Swedish researchers have developed a breakthrough 3D printing method to create soft actuators. These dielectric elastic actuators (DEA) are made from silicone-based materials, combining conductive electrodes with non-conductive dielectrics in interlocking layers. According to the team at Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), the innovation enables the efficient production of complex, flexible components, advancing soft robotics and smart materials. "One day, these could be used in medicine or robotics – and anywhere else where things need to move at the touch of a button, said researchers in a statement. Artificial muscles could one day assist workers, aid mobility, or replace damaged tissue. However, replicating real muscle function remains a challenge. To match biological muscles, artificial versions must be powerful, elastic, and soft. They are fundamentally dependent on actuators, which are parts that translate electrical information into motion. Although actuators are frequently found in automobile engines, industrial systems, and residences, their conventional designs are stiff and lack the flexibility of actual muscles. To bridge this gap and bring artificial muscles closer to practical uses in robotics, prosthetics, and assistive technologies, researchers say new materials and manufacturing processes are needed to produce actuators that move naturally. An important advancement has been made by researchers at Empa's Laboratory for Functional Polymers, who have created a technique for 3D printing soft actuators. According to the team, these DEAs are composed of interlocking layers of two silicone-based materials: a conductive electrode and a non-conductive dielectric. When voltage is applied, the actuator contracts like a muscle and relaxes when the voltage is removed. Printing such structures is complex, as the materials must remain distinct yet adhere together. They must also be soft enough for electrical activation while meeting 3D printing requirements—liquefying under pressure for extrusion but solidifying quickly to maintain shape, balancing conflicting properties. Researchers from EMPA, in collaboration with ETH Zurich, developed a breakthrough method for 3D printing soft actuators, overcoming many conflicting material properties. Using specially formulated inks and a custom-designed nozzle, they successfully created functional artificial muscles. The effort is a component of the Manufhaptics project, which intends to create a glove that simulates resistance while gripping to enable users to feel virtual things. These soft actuators have several uses outside of virtual reality. They are a possible substitute for conventional actuators in automobiles, industrial machinery, and robots since they are small, quiet, and incredibly flexible in shape. According to the team, their adaptability and customization create opportunities for medical applications like prosthetics or assistive technology. The recently created method increases the possibility of soft, responsive materials by printing long, elastic threads in addition to intricate structures. These developments may eventually result in actuators that closely resemble the way muscles work naturally, which would advance wearable technologies, robotics, and medical treatments. "If we manage to make them just a little thinner, we can get pretty close to how real muscle fibers work," said Dorina Opris, who leads the research group Functional Polymeric Materials at Empa, in a statement. The possibility of printing an entire heart from these fibers may one day become a reality, but significant challenges remain.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists just created a biodegradable battery using mushrooms — and it actually works
Scientists in Switzerland will have you thinking twice before saying "hold the mushrooms" on your next food order. That's because the researchers have successfully created a fungal device that can power small sensors, functioning as a "living battery." It's part of fascinating findings from Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, that showcase the untapped power of the fungal community. Empa's team noted that various kinds of organisms can produce pathogens, while others can provide medicines. When it comes to electricity, two types have been combined to turn nutrients into energy. The non-toxic, puck-shaped power-maker then safely "digests itself" after its work is complete. Use examples include powering small sensors, or temperature monitors, for a couple of days, according to an Empa news release. The fungi are combined with "ink" and formed into a battery using a 3D printer, a process highlighted in an Empa video clip. "For the first time, we have combined two types of fungi to create a functioning fuel cell," Empa researcher Carolina Reyes said in the release. Some of the battery parts will sound familiar to anyone with knowledge of common lithium-ion tech. A yeast fungus serves as the anode, with a metabolism that releases electrons. A white rot fungus forms the cathode. It makes a "special enzyme" that captures electrons, conducting them out of the cell, according to the Empa experts. "You can store the fungal batteries in a dried state and activate them on location by simply adding water and nutrients," Reyes said. The report added that simple sugars are good nutrient sources, essentially feeding the fungi as part of the electricity-generating process. Crafting an ink that maximized fungal conductivity was a challenge. Cellulose was found to be a suitable base. What's more, the fungi use it in the biodegradable process that ends the cell's functional life, according to the release. The ink "has to be easy to extrude without killing the cells — and of course we want it to be electrically conductive and biodegradable," lab head Gustav Nyström said. Will America someday get all its energy from renewable sources? Yes — very soon Yes — by 2050 Yes — by 2070 Probably never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Mushrooms are getting attention in other sectors, too. In the U.K., a Newcastle University team is working on a fungus-based concrete alternative. A project in Namibia is using the organism in a process to make a cleaner brick. While small, the fungal batteries are evidence that the next energy-transforming innovation could come from an unlikely place. A salt battery in China can amazingly power 12,000 homes, for example. It's all part of the way our power system can operate with a reduced amount of heat-trapping air pollution as a harmful byproduct. It's important that we reduce and eliminate planet-warming gases, which are linked by NASA and other experts to greater risks for severe weather and a range of human medical concerns, including lung and heart ailments. Cardio/respiratory health, as well as air quality, can be aided by some simple movement that almost anyone can enjoy. You can cut 600 pounds of air pollution annually by walking a couple of miles each day instead of driving. That's in addition to improving your health and shaving your fuel expenses. For Empa's part, the team now plans to improve the power of its mushroom battery, increasing its output and lifespan. "Fungi are still under-researched and under-utilized, especially in the field of materials science," the experts said in the news release. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
