MIT engineers have made a major breakthrough by developing a zinc-air microbattery. The device is so tiny that it is just 0.1 millimeters long and 0.002 millimeters thick – about the thickness of a human hair. This innovative battery uses oxygen from the air to oxidize zinc, generating up to 1 volt of electricity. This significant advance could transform the capabilities of cell-sized robots, allowing them to perform tasks such as delivering drugs to the human body or detecting gas leaks in pipelines.
Small batteries, big impact
The new battery design addresses a major challenge in robotics: powering extremely small devices. Conventional robots often rely on external light or laser sources for energy, limiting their mobility and functionality. By integrating the power source directly into the robots, MIT’s zinc-air batteries provide the autonomy these devices need to operate independently. Michael Strano, lead author of the study, emphasizes the importance of this development: “We are building robotic functions into the battery and starting to assemble these components into devices.”
Advanced robot capabilities
The research team, led by Ge Zhang and Sungyun Yang, has shown that these batteries can power a range of robotic components, including actuators that move robotic arms, memristors for data storage, and sensors that detect chemicals. The vision for these tiny robots includes their potential use in medical applications, such as injecting them into the human body and administering drugs such as insulin. They could also be used in industrial settings to monitor and respond to environmental changes.
Future prospects
The MIT team plans to integrate the batteries directly into robotic devices in the future, moving beyond the current prototype stage where the battery is connected externally. Future research will focus on increasing battery voltage and exploring additional applications. This innovation, supported by funding from the U.S. Army Research Office, Department of Energy, and National Science Foundation, represents a significant step forward in the development of more autonomous and versatile robotic systems.
This advancement holds promise for both medical and industrial applications and represents a significant leap in the capabilities of small robots.
