(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/GFDL)
Surprisingly, a new renewable power source offers two advantages: clean energy and carbon dioxide absorption. Using the power of photosynthesis through microphotosynthetic power cells is like hitting two birds with one stone.
New Renewable Power Source
A Wisconsin Concordia University group used photosynthesis to create miniature photosynthetic power cells, which use algae to produce energy. These cells convert the electrons created during photosynthesis into an ongoing electrical current by capturing those electrons.
The researchers discovered that it offers two advantages. It is a negative carbon emission technology since it generates clean energy and absorbs carbon dioxide from the environment. Water is the sole byproduct, demonstrating how environmentally friendly it is.
According to Kirankumar Kuruvinashetti, Ph.D., a postdoctoral associate in the Mitacs program at the University of Calgary, the goal of the mini photosynthetic power cell is to harvest electrons generated during the photosynthesis process.
Oxygen and electrons are produced during photosynthesis. The researchers can produce power because their model catches the electrons. As a result, this technology is both zero-emission and carbon-negative because it draws energy from the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing current. Water is the only byproduct of it.
A unique membrane separates the tiny chambers that comprise the micro photosynthetic power cells. One chamber is filled with algae, and the other is filled with potassium ferricyanide.
Algae release electrons, microscopic particles, during photosynthesis. The membrane absorbs these electrons and produces an electric current. While this configuration functions best in direct sunlight, it can still produce electricity.
Algae breathe continuously, just like people do, except they take in carbon dioxide and expel oxygen. Because of their photosynthetic apparatus, they also emit electrons during respiration. The production of electricity continues. According to Dhilippan Panneerselvam, a Ph.D. candidate and co-author of the paper, the electrons are continuously gathered.
Although they generate less electricity than conventional solar panels, algae power cells may become more efficient. Because they don't require complicated ingredients or dangerous gases like silicon solar cells, they are simpler and less expensive to produce. Instead, they make them economical and environmentally friendly using reasonably priced and eco-friendly components.
What Is a Micro Photosynthetic Power Cell?
Micro-photosynthetic power cell (μPSC) is one of the newest energy-harvesting technologies. It uses light (photosynthesis) and dark energy (respiration) to produce energy for low-power (mW range) uses. It is an environmentally friendly device that generates electricity in bright and gloomy environments using solar energy and algae.
It produces power by using living, photosynthetic microorganisms to capture sunlight. The thermodynamic constraints of this process limit the power output of a single µPSC.
Since photosynthetic microorganisms can withstand harsh weather, μPSC can power microsensors for weather monitoring in places that are hard for humans to access. Furthermore, μPSCs can supply power to sensors in wireless sensor networks for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.21 Additionally, μPSCs can serve as a viable power source for various applications that demand power in the milliwatt range.
To obtain the necessary power for other applications, a solitary μPSC or a mixture of several μPSCs in parallel or series can be utilized.
A higher power was produced by the series and parallel configurations of µPSCs than by the individual series and parallel setups. A high power density was obtained by combining six µPSCs coupled in parallel and series.
RELATED ARTICLE: Artificial Trees in Switzerland Store Solar Energy Into Hydrogen, Could Allow Decentralized Applications [Report]
Check out more news and information on Energy in Science Times.