BeFC SAS, France
BeFC have developed an organic and compostable metal-free battery made from paper and carbon. Inspired by nature, using the biological components: namely enzymes to convert sugar molecules (such as glucose) and oxygen into electricity to empower microelectronics.
So-called microelectronics are made of paper and its components allow to collect data such as temperature, humidity and communicate this data through bluetooth or NFC technology.
The merged opportunuties of paper-based battery and circuit boards have capacity to be the cornerstone of Sustainable Energy Harvesting and Electronics/Communication serving to different markets.
Functionality
- To empower papertronics, we have developed Biofuel Cells. These type of fuel cells use simple fuels such as a glucose electrolyte solution to activate the cell via a single mechanical force such as injecting liquid or using a liquid reservoir attached to biofuel cell.
- BeFC have integrated a bleeding-edge and feature-rich ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) to reduce the total component count and mass, providing compatibility with a range of analog and digital sensors (temperature, humidity, shock, etc.), on-board memory, and wireless communication via Near-Field Communication (NFC) and/or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocols.
Benefits of the project
- BeFC fabricated an elegant platform within the mission of low-cost, lightweight and low-environmental-impact microelectronics powered by biofuel cells.
- The fibrous structure of paper provides a large surface area, which can be advantageous for certain applications, such as sensors or batteries, where surface interactions (e.g., adsorption) are important.
- Ultimately, the product will contain minimum semiconductors, that can be recycled, whereas the rest of the product can be industrially composted.
- Since fabrication methods are mostly printing techniques, papertronics and biofuel cells can be easily customized in terms of design and functionality. This allows for diverse applications, from disposable sensors to smart packaging.
Target Industry
- Internet of Things: logistics, cold chain, medicine/vaccine transport
- Healthcare: smart wearables, wound monitoring, point-of-care testing
Organic & Printed Components
- Printed antenna
- Printed battery
- Printed electrode
- Fuel Cells
Classical Components
- Biofuel Cell: Paper, Carbon materials, Enzymes, Glucose, Oxygen
- Papertronics: ASIC, Capacitors, Resistors, Inductors, NFC/BLE antenna