Microbial fuel cells for autonomous ocean sensors

Military research and development

Military defense and naval operations

Military research and development

A technology that combines hydrogen and oxygen in a clean, electrochemical process to generate power, releasing only water vapor as a byproduct.

Fuel cells that use bacteria as catalysts to produce hydrogen gas, which is then used to generate electricity. In this application, the hydrogen also provides buoyancy control.

United States

Thailand

An autonomous ocean sensor powered by microbial fuel cells that uses bacteria-catalyzed hydrogen production for both electricity generation and buoyancy control. The cylindrical device can surface, dive, and navigate water columns.

An autonomous ocean sensor powered by microbial fuel cells. The cylindrical device uses bacteria-catalyzed hydrogen production to generate electricity for sensors and to control buoyancy for diving and surfacing operations.