Photo from open sources
Scientists are increasingly using viruses to tackle various biotechnological tasks for example as a gene tool engineering or to destroy pathogenic bacteria. However even against this background the idea of Angela Belcher from Massachusetts Institute of Technology looks unusual. She teaches viruses assemble nanocomponents for batteries. Assembled this way batteries work more efficiently than traditional ones, and their production non toxic
According to Wired, the researcher intends to use viruses for assembling electrodes of lithium-ion batteries. She hopes this will improve battery performance as well help make their production process less toxic.
The virus that Belcher works with is called bacteriophage M14. The researcher in a special way modifies it genome, and then infects them with bacteria. Those in turn produce the necessary proteins from which the viral envelope is built. M14 has her form resembles a cigar.
Certain mutations can cause the shell to coated with a layer of cobalt oxide attracting proteins. Cleaning her from organics, you can get a cobalt nanowire, which Useful when creating batteries. Other mutations will force virus build a membrane of proteins with an affinity for phosphate iron or 150 other compounds.
While the components of the electrodes collected by viruses have almost random structure. Belcher and her colleagues are working on in order to make it more streamlined, but even in its current form virus-collected batteries work no worse or even better than traditional counterparts. Some of them have higher capacities, service life and charging speed.
However, the main advantage of the viral assembly is environmental friendliness because it does not require the use of chemicals and high temperatures. All that is needed to start the process is materials for electrodes, room temperature water, bacteria and genetically modified viruses.
Earlier, Angela Belcher has already used her biotechnological development to launch two startups. Cambrios Technologies manufactures electronics for touchscreens with viral synthesis, and Siluria Technologies uses viruses to synthesize ethylene from methane. However will commercialize the viral assembly of batteries is unclear. The main problem is that in battery manufacturing usually tons of material are involved. Adapt technology Belcher to such a scale will not be easy.
But even if the researcher does not succeed with batteries, her idea with a viral assembly may find application in other areas. For example, such a technology will allow nanoparticles for the search and even destruction of cancer cells.
Researchers from Korea developed a composite that increased four times the battery capacity. It will double the mileage electric vehicles, allow them to charge 80% in just 5 minutes and in times will increase the capacity of all energy storage systems.
A source
Viruses
