Researchers develop ultra-thin battery powered by saline for smart contact lenses  

Key Takeaways

• A team of researchers has developed a thin, flexible battery that could ultimately power smart contact lenses. 
• The battery includes biocompatible materials and doesn’t contain any wires or toxic heavy metals, such as those in lithium-ion batteries or wireless charging systems.

A team of researchers from Nanyang Technology University Singapore have developed a flexible battery as thin as a human cornea that can store electricity when it is immersed in saline solution, and ultimately could power smart contact lenses. According to an NTU news release, smart contact lenses could be used to correct vision, monitor the health of the user, and flag and treat diseases for patients diagnosed with chronic health conditions such as glaucoma and diabetes. 

The battery the NTU team developed includes biocompatible materials and doesn’t contain any wires or toxic heavy metals, such as those in lithium-ion batteries or wireless charging systems. According to the news release, the battery also could be powered by human tears, which contain sodium and potassium ions. The researchers tested the battery with a simulated tear solution and were able to demonstrate that the battery’s life would be extended an additional hour for every twelve-hour wearing cycle it is used. The researchers noted that the battery can also be charged conventionally by an external power supply.

Edited by Miriam Kaplan, PhD

Source:

David Hutton, Ophthalmology Times, Aug 25, 2024; see source article