Binghamton University researchers develop intestine-inspired biobatteries

Researchers at Binghamton University have developed new biobatteries inspired by the structure of the human small intestine. By mimicking intestinal villi—the finger-like projections that line the digestive tract—the team created conductive hydrogel architectures designed to optimize electrical performance.

The design utilizes spore-forming bacteria, specifically Bacillus subtilis, to generate bioenergy. Previous attempts using two-dimensional materials like paper, fabric, or metal often lacked sufficient surface area for bacterial growth or faced performance issues due to biofilm clogging. The new 3D-inspired structure provides an enhanced habitat for the microorganisms to thrive and produce energy more effectively.

Led by Professor Seokheun “Sean” Choi, along with doctoral students Ruohan “Astrid” Zhang and Botian Wang, the study’s findings were recently published in the journal “Small”. The research aims to overcome the limitations of traditional flat configurations by using engineered habitats to support bacterial proliferation.