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Researchers at Saint Louis University in Missouri have developed a fuel cell battery that can run on virtually any sugar source including table sugar, flat sodas and tree saps. Carbonated drinks like Coca-Cola will also work but it is proved to be less effective. The researchers said the battery is potentially more energy-efficient; it can probably last three to four times longer than the conventional lithium batteries that we use nowadays.

The theory behind the innovation is rather simple. The battery can be sugar-fuelled because it contains enzymes that can convert sugar into electricity, leaving water as the by-product. And also, bridging Biology and Chemistry, all parts of the new battery will be biodegradable. This is certainly a great improvement from the usual metal-based cells.

Using sugar as a kind of fuel is not a new concept. Sugar, in the form of glucose, also plays a major role in supplying the energy that all living things need.

By now, the researchers have successfully run a handheld calculator using a small prototype of the sugar-fuelled battery, which is about the size of a postage stamp. However, further tests and refinements are needed to modify the battery’s performance in different environmental conditions, as well as extending the battery life.

One of the first applications of the cutting-edge technology is likely to use it as a portable cell phone charger, which is similar to the rapid chargers we currently use. The new charger would consist of special cartridges filled with sugar solution for supplying power, which could be replaced afterwards.

Hoping to replace the current lithium batteries, the sugar-fuelled battery could probably be launched within the next three to five years.

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