Algal systems have "been" transformed into renewable biological photovoltaic cells

British researchers have used a widespread blue-green algae to continuously power the microprocessor for a single year, using only ambient light and water in the process.The system has the potential to power small devices in a reliable and renewable manner.The study was published recently in the journal Energy and Environmental Science.

The system, about the size of an AA battery, contains non-toxic algae called collecting cells that naturally generate energy from the sun through photosynthesis, generating tiny currents that interact with the aluminum electrodes and are used to power the microprocessor.

The system is made of ordinary, inexpensive, and mostly recyclable materials.That means it can easily be copied hundreds of thousands of times, powering a lot of small devices as part of the Internet of Things.Researchers say it is most useful when left off-grid or in remote areas, where a small amount of electricity can produce great benefits.

Professor Christopher Howe, co-senior author of the University of Cambridge, said: " The growing Internet of Things requires more and more electricity, and we think it must come from systems that generate energy, rather than simply storing energy like batteries."And the photosynthetic device doesn't run out of power like a battery, because it constantly uses light as energy.

In experiments, the device was proven to be widely used to power microprocessors for IoT devices.The Internet of Things is a large and growing network of electronic devices, each using only a small amount of electricity and collecting and sharing real-time data over the Internet.Using low-cost computer chips and wireless networks, billions of devices have become part of the network, ranging from smartwatches 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 investigators also explained why the device can operate in home environments or under semi-outdoor conditions under natural light and associated temperature fluctuations.Algae do not need to be fed, they produce their own food, and while photosynthesis requires light, but the equipment continues to generate electricity in the dark environment, because the algae continue to process some food without light, which continues to produce an electric current.

[Editor]

The complexity of the power supply on the Internet of Things is actually far more than people think.Many of the existing solutions no longer apply: first, it is considered impractical to supply trillions of Internet of Things devices, because it requires three times as much lithium as the world; second, traditional photovoltaic equipment in manufacturing materials; and the Internet of Things may have a very wide input range and maintain high efficiency without keeping the system from overheating.In this case, scientists are looking at algal photovoltaic cells, which are not necessarily the mainstream solution, but they offer more options for maximizing performance in long-term use while minimizing loss.