Optical-Bio Microsystems Lab Researchers have developed a method to generate electricity using algae, creating a carbon-negative technology that absorbs carbon dioxide and releases water as the only byproduct.
Coimbatore:
Researchers at the Optical-Bio Microsystems Lab have published a groundbreaking paper in the journal Energies, detailing their innovative method of generating electricity by hijacking the photosynthesis process of algae. The team has successfully extracted energy from algae suspended in a specialized solution within small power cells, potentially powering low and ultra-low power devices such as IoT sensors.
The micro photosynthetic power cell works by capturing electrons produced during photosynthesis. “Photosynthesis produces oxygen and electrons. Our model traps the electrons, generating electricity and making it a carbon-negative technology,” says Kirankumar Kuruvinashetti, a Mitacs postdoctoral associate at the University of Calgary. “Its only byproduct is water, and it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, effectively reducing carbon emissions.”
The power cells consist of an anode and a cathode chamber separated by a honeycomb-shaped proton exchange membrane. Algae in the anode chamber release electrons during photosynthesis, which are then collected by microelectrodes on the membrane to create a current. The cathode chamber, filled with potassium ferricyanide, acts as an electron acceptor. This configuration allows the generation of electricity continuously, even without direct sunlight, as algae also release electrons during respiration.
Muthukumaran Packirisamy, a professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial, and Aerospace Engineering and the paper’s corresponding author, highlighted the environmental and manufacturing advantages of the system. “Our system does not use hazardous gases or microfibres needed for silicon fabrication. We use biocompatible polymers, making the whole system easily decomposable and very cheap to manufacture,” he said.
Although the current maximum terminal voltage of a single micro photosynthetic power cell is only 1.0V, Packirisamy believes that with further research, including artificial intelligence-assisted integration technologies, this technology has the potential to become a viable, affordable, and clean power source in the future.
The potential applications of this technology are vast. It could power IoT sensors, small electronic devices, and possibly, with further development, larger systems. This innovative approach represents a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable and environmentally friendly energy solutions.
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/7/1749