Innovation And Invention: Algae System Transforms Into Renewable Biological Photovoltaic Cell

British researchers used a ubiquitous cyanobacteria to power microprocessors for a year, using only ambient light and water. The system has the potential to power small equipment in a reliable and renewable way. The study was recently published in the journal energy and environmental science.

The system, the size of an AA battery, contains a non-toxic alga called Synechocystis, which naturally gets energy from the sun through photosynthesis, and the tiny current it generates interacts with aluminum electrodes and is used to power microprocessors.

The system is made of common, inexpensive and most recyclable materials. This means it can be easily replicated hundreds of thousands of times, powering a large number of small devices as part of the Internet of things. The researchers say it is most useful when it is off grid or in remote areas where a small amount of electricity can be of great benefit.

"The growing Internet of things requires more and more power, and we think it has to come from systems that generate energy, rather than simply storing energy like a battery," said Professor Christopher Howe, CO senior author of the paper and Department of Biochemistry at Cambridge University And the photosynthetic device doesn't run out like a battery, because it uses light as a source of energy.

In the experiment, the device has been proved to be widely used for powering microprocessors of Internet of things devices. Only a small amount of data is collected through the Internet of things and only a small amount of data is collected through the Internet. Using low-cost computer chips and wireless networks, billions of devices are part of the network, from smart watches to temperature sensors in power stations. By 2035, that number is expected to grow to one trillion devices, requiring a lot of portable energy.

The researchers also explain why the device can operate in home or semi outdoor conditions under natural light and associated temperature fluctuations. Algae do not need to be fed. They produce their own food during photosynthesis. Although photosynthesis requires light, the device can even continue to generate electricity in a dark environment. This is because algae continue to process some food without light, which continuously generates electricity.