Tiny, printable batteries promise to change the face of obnoxious greeting cards forever

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Electronic Nano Systems ENAS in Chemnitz led by Prof. Dr. Reinhard Baumann have unveiled tiny, printable batteries that they hope to put into production for pennies apiece. The new battery prototype is primarily composed of a zinc anode and a manganese cathode that can be screen printed and covered with a non-printed template cover. Each mercury-free battery weighs less than one gram, and can individually produce about 1.5 volts of electricity. By placing several batteries side by side, however, up to 6 volts can be generated. The institute has already produced these little power houses in the lab, and hopes to see them into production by the end of the year. The batteries have a relatively short lifespan, making them suitable for applications such as powering greeting cards. All we can say is that this battery would have made the card we got two years ago that sang "Word Up" much, much awesomer.

[Via Physorg]

[Kulahan @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:14PM]

Good. Now everyone can have their greeting cards scream at my face when I open them! Because I clearly can't read them myself.

[kjb434 @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:25PM]

Greeting cards are evidence of lack of creativity. If you have to get a greeting to give someone, your really don't care.

[Wwhat @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:31PM]

Greetings to your comment.

[paul34 @ Jul 2nd 2009 5:53PM]

Yes... most people don't care, thus the card. What is your point?

[obiwan @ Jul 3rd 2009 2:18AM]

I'm showing you how much I care by sending you an e-card. I don't even have to get off of my @$$ to go pick one out. Or spend a $1.50, either!

[Wwhat @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:56PM]

Actually e-cards are such a tricky mess that it's easier to get a real card, half the e-card sites are made by people trying to datamine or infect people.

[T.W.G @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:29PM]

Interesting news,

"MP3" developed in Germany by Frauenhofer Institut (look at your iPod, iTunes, Sony Walkman etc). MP3 = german Frauenhofer Institut.

Now printable batteries are the next big small thing?

;-)

[Wwhat @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:32PM]

I think most all engadget readers know they came up with mp3.

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:41PM]

I think you give us engadget readers too much credit.

[chris @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:48PM]

Strictly speaking while the Fraunhofer Society released the first software, the format itself was "developed" by a group of organisations including Bell Labs and others.

Also the Fraunhofer Society has nearly 60 "Institutes" and 12k+ scientists etc, so its not likely to be the same set of boffins anyway.

"The More You Know" and all that.

[Wolfticket @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:52PM]

I invented the MP3, and the question mark.

[David @ Jul 2nd 2009 5:19PM]

I believe you mean "And the question mark?"

[ilovethewaggle @ Jul 2nd 2009 5:26PM]

Everyone knows that America invented everything. jeeze.

[Trevor @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:14PM]

@David: You can't use that glyph! It's Wolfticket's intellectual property! Somebody call the copyright police!

[Wolfticket @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:23PM]

Don't worry, I have a deal with the internet so that every time it is used a fraction of a penny is automatically debited to my account.

[slyd3z @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:30PM]

Cameo FTW!

[zack Fanning @ Jul 2nd 2009 4:58PM]

So, it's like a walkman?

[Kurian @ Jul 2nd 2009 5:01PM]

Pair of severed testicles, vertically sliced in half along the front.

[George Miller @ Jul 11th 2009 6:08PM]

With a limited education, I find this very interesting. Makes me wonder if thay could be stacked to be used for a longer life and used for other things than Greating cards?

[zed @ Jul 2nd 2009 5:56PM]

Comrades! Throw off the chains of human oppression!

[msm @ Jul 2nd 2009 9:48PM]

We can finally send howlers...if only there was a way to make them self-destruct.

/dork

[Trevor @ Jul 3rd 2009 3:16PM]

Win. Maybe we should ask Apple about how to make batteries catch on fire; it seems to be their area of expertise. Not hating, just saying.

[mrance @ Jul 3rd 2009 1:29PM]

you geeks don't get it!
try sending your wife a screaming card, or e-card for your anniversary, birthday, or ....get ready for a cool response
written, personalized messages will never be replaced by technology, except by12 year olds, and robots.
thankfully women buy most everything