Battery disposal and limited operating lifespans restrict adoption of implantable and wearable biosensors. This research investigates thermal thermoelectric generators (TEGs) harvesting body heat and enzymatic biofuel cells operating on interstitial glucose to achieve perpetual batteryless sensor operation.
With a temperature gradient of only 2 to 4 degrees Celsius between skin and ambient air, state-of-the-art boost converters step up 20 mV inputs to 3.3V rails with conversion efficiencies exceeding 68%.
Ultra-low quiescent current PMICs (< 450 nA) store harvested joules in solid-state ceramic capacitors, releasing power in controlled bursts to drive BLE radio transmitters.