BeFC

Eco-friendly paper-based bioenzymatic fuel cells for sustainable energy generation.

Electronics integration in disposable medical and wearable medical devices has become increasingly important. The button or coin cell power sources used are difficult to recycle, toxic or dangerous to the environment. The development of safe and ecological devices is often a barrier to the progression of single-use and single-patient devices.

BeFC offer a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for practical energy generation whilst minimising impact to the environment. We believe our approach will not only allow the replacement of batteries for existing applications, but also open up new opportunities for low-power ultra-thin health monitoring, logistics / transportation monitoring, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

Technology

We have invented a paper-based, ultra-thin and miniature bioenzymatic fuel cell system.  Our technology uses biological catalysts instead of chemical or expensive noble metal catalysts to convert natural substrates such as glucose and oxygen into electricity. 

Our products exploit enzymes, carbon electrodes and paper microfluidics, all of which provide a sustainable and environmentally-friendly method of generating energy. The devices can be operated with just a drop of solution, from tap water to biological fluids.