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Revolutionary paper-thin batteries
Meet BeFC, the scientists replacing lithium batteries with compostable paper strips
Established in May 2020 as a spin-off from the CNRS( French National Centre for Scientific Research), BeFC is built on decades of groundbreaking biofuel cell research, targeting emerging markets in packaging, wearables, and single-use medical applications. With an exceptional team of world-class engineers, scientists, and problem-solvers, BeFC is committed to developing organic and eco-friendly energy solutions for the next generation of smart and sustainable electronics. As a pioneer in biofuel cell technology, BeFC is transforming the production of batteries and electronics through a range of clean, sustainable products. These include natural, enzyme-driven battery alternatives and autonomous, eco-friendly data-capture tags and patches. Alexandre Cheikhi, Commercial Director, sheds light on the technology and innovation behind BeFC key products.
“ As a French startup originating from the CNRS, our technology is rooted in over 20 years of pure research that took place before we even founded BeFC. The core concept driving our work is to mimic the chemical reactions that occur in every living organism to generate energy, specifically the reaction between enzymes, sugar, and oxygen. Initially, we aimed to harvest the enzymes, sugar, and oxygen directly from the organism but then switched to printing enzymes and sugar onto paper, resulting in the world’ s first metal-free and compostable electricity source. Indeed, our product consists of a small piece of paper containing only enzymes and sugar, which produces energy for up to two weeks, a lifespan we are actively working to extend. At the moment, our technology is primarily focused on business-to-business( B2B) applications, such as powering small Internet of Things( IoT) devices in logistics and small medical devices. Our ultimate goal is to power various IoT devices while replacing traditional lithium, or zinc manganese batteries,” he informs.
Though still in its early years, BeFC’ s gamechanging biofuel cell is already applicable in a variety of fields, as Alexandre notes.“ For now, IoT devices remain our primary market, encompassing everything from measuring
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