We all are aware that viruses cannot be killed and that there is no cure available for viral diseases but how about using these viruses to our advantage. Scientists have made use of a virus in the making of a tiny micro battery that can power miniature electronic devices. Experts at MIT have made this possible with the help of a genetically engineered virus called M13. They first made a pattern with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and coated it with alternating layers of positive and negative electrolytes. Then they embedded the virus on to it. The virus was devised to have negatively charged amino acids on their surface which makes them adhere to the template. The viruses also have an attraction for cobalt which is a widely used material in batteries. The entire structure is immersed into a cobalt solution that supplies cobalt ions which fuses with the virus layer forming a large surface area capable of storing electric charges. The structure is then stamped onto a platinum layer and the initial PDMS layer is peeled off. The finished product looks like an array of small dots with the cobalt layer underneath and this forms the core of the battery.

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