Scientists at Penn State have developed a flexible, high-power hydrogel battery inspired by electric eels. The team layered multiple types of hydrogels, including water-rich, conductive materials, in a precise pattern that mimics the ionic processes electric eels use to produce bursts of electricity. By optimizing the chemistry and geometry of these hydrogels, they achieved power densities higher than previously reported for hydrogel-based batteries. Eel-inspired hydrogel power Using spin coating, the researchers deposited four different hydrogel mixtures on a rotating surface, achieving ultra-thin, uniform layers. “The electrocytes in electric eels are ultra-thin biological cells, capable of generating over 600 volts of electricity in a brief burst,” Najem said.