TMV-Battery Project

This video pertains to a research project described here: http://www.eng.umd.edu/media/release.php?id=71

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• tobacco mosaic virus
• battery
• engineering
• nanotechnology

[umd]

Hello again, here are some responses from the researcher:

1. The graph in the end is from a virus-structured battery containing a silicon anode. It shows its discharge curve as it is operated under constant discharge current.

2. The batteries can be charged up to within 15-20 minutes.

[umd]

Hello -- I am checking with the researcher regarding the questions below and hope to have him respond shortly.

[sdpadresfan]

keep up the good work. nice to know tobacco can actually be useful for something good!

[gjc82071]

1 interesting point in regards to patenting this idea. I am sure the patent application will succeed, but probably & only because an average judge or lawyer has not a fraction of the scientific knowledge required to understand all this. The TMV-Battery Project could be likened to a bee making a honeycomb. You can't patent a Bee or the comb. In this case, the TMV is doing all the "work" by incorporating metal into it's structure. Scientist are supplying the metal. How can you patent that?

[davewozere2k9]

Whats the graph at the end, and how does that compare to one you could buy in the shop?

[speedomike747]

How long do they take to charge?

[otivaeey]

@hyperforce The virus is genetically-engineered to render contagious dysfunctionality.

[Gta2CubanPete]

Very nice research. Could these type of batteries also be scaled up and be used in cars?

[hyperforce]

Thats pretty awesome, just a little risky to scale to full production as the virus is based on similar virus that that destroys certain plantlife like tomato plants.

The virus might die during the process but I mean inside the lab environment where its cultivated.