Charged Viruses as Programmable Charge Carriers for Sustainable Batteries and Supercapacitors: A Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15377/2410-3624.2026.13.1Keywords:
Supercapacitors, Synthetic biology, Sustainable batteries, Virus-templated materials, Bio-inspired energy storage.Abstract
As the demand for sustainable energy storage increases, alternative concepts beyond conventional inorganic charge carriers are being explored. This Perspective proposes a conceptual framework in which genetically programmable viruses function as mobile charge carriers in batteries and supercapacitors. Unlike previous virus-templated electrode studies, the present work introduces the new concept of viruses operating within the electrolyte as tunable nanoscale charge transporters. The potential advantages, including charge programmability, biodegradability, and compatibility with circular material design, are discussed alongside key technical challenges such as mobility limitations, mass transport constraints, stability, and engineering feasibility. Environmental implications, including lifecycle considerations and biosafety aspects, are also analyzed. This work aims to outline a forward-looking research direction at the interface of synthetic biology and electrochemical energy storage.
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