nspired by the electric eel, researchers are developing flexible, biocompatible power sources based on ionic gradients. Although these artificial systems currently lack the power density to replace standard lithium-ion batteries in general robotics, their non-toxic nature makes them highly promising for specialized niche applications, such as implantable bioelectronics, underwater soft robots, and low-power sensors. To improve these systems, the review evaluates the theoretical use of a light-activated protein called bacteriorhodopsin (bR) to continuously regenerate the necessary ionic gradients. The study identifies light exposure and bR concentration as the most critical factors for success and outlines specific experimental steps to bring this innovative approach to life.
Francisco Vallmitjana Baixeras (Fri,) studied this question.