New research presented at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) could unlock the door to a future where portable electronic items such as cell phones and laptops can be recharged using a drop of soda pop or vegetable oil.

Shelley Minteer, Ph.D., described the innovative device – the first mitochondria fuel cell – as a thin layer of mitochondria sandwiched between two electrodes, including a gas-permeable electrode that produces electricity. The cell device successfully produced electricity using sugar and cooking oil byproducts as fuel in lab tests, explained Minteer and colleagues.

“This is the first demonstration of a new class of biofuel cells,” said Minteer, “When further developed, these devices have the potential for replacing disposable and rechargeable batteries in a wide variety of consumer electronics and other products.”

Minteer and colleagues based the device on mitochondria, a specialized subunit within human cells that produces energy for the body to function. Powered by a chemical formed in the digestion of sugar or fats, mitochondria transform calories in food into chemical energy which the body uses to sustain life.

The mitochondria fuel cells has a variety of prospective applications such as a power source in wireless sensors for temperature monitoring, stamp-sized sensors to detect hidden explosives, motion detection, and monitoring the location of vehicles in a fleet, added the scientists.

For now, why not charge your phone using the sun? Check out JUDGENERGY's solar phone chargers.