"In combining a biological electronic device with CMOS, we will be able to create new systems not possible with either technology alone," says Shepard. "We are excited at the prospect of expanding the palette of active devices that will have new functions, such as harvesting energy from ATP, as was done here, or recognizing specific molecules, giving chips the potential to taste and smell. This was quite a unique new direction for us and it has great potential to give solid-state systems new capabilities with biological components."
Ref: Hybrid integrated biological–solid-state system powered with adenosine triphosphate. Nature Communications (7 December 2015) | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10070