Friday, December 14, 2007

sugar power for cell phone

Sugar might someday power electronic equipmeent as well as a battery. Scientists have found a new way to turn sugar into electricity. This process involves fuel cells. Instead of using precious metals as fuel cells reaserchers from saint louis univertiy replaced the metals with proteins called enzymes Which spark chemical reactions. The problem is that enzymes in fuel cells break down faster than they can be replaced. The reasearchers invented molecuels to wrap around an enzyme to protect it. Now the enzymes can last for months instead of days. Enzymes and sugar molecules together form an electrical current that could power electronic devices. As far as they know the fuel cells don't produce as much power as needed. The sugar eating fuel cells are good for the agriculture. They expect to be done in as little as three years.
www.sciencenewsforkids.com/20070425/Note3.asp
by: Garrett.w, Garrett.s