A team of chemists at St. Louis University have developed a battery that runs off of alcohol and enzymes. Some day, it could replace rechargeable batteries. Instead of plugging into a fixed power outlet and waiting for a recharge, these new batteries would last up to a full month after they are charged instantly with a few milliliters of alcohol.
Scientists have studied biofuel cells for nearly half a century, but the technology has not advanced to the point of practical use. Unlike batteries, which use expensive metals to catalyze the power-producing reaction, these cells use enzymes—molecules found in all living things that speed up the body’s chemical processes.