This little “computer” only works with algae

With the one that is falling, it is important to find new ways to generate electrical energy. It’s actually not a new quest though. Scientists have been trying to find alternative, clean and cheap methodsto supply electricity. solar energy is one of the most useful, especially in places like south of spainwith a lot of hours of sunshine. However, at night and on cloudy batteries. What if there was a method that used solar energy but also served as a battery? Two in one! Well, that’s basically what a team of scientists from Cambridge university. They managed to keep a small a computer works during six months just by using seaweed.

Well, it’s actually about cyanobacteria. Previously, and in some cases today, they were known as blue green algaefor its ability to carry out photosynthesis. However, over time, it was found that they are actually organisms. prokaryoteslike bacteria. Therefore, they do not fit the classification of the rest seaweed. However, it is important here photosynthesissince these scientists, whose results are published in Energy and environmental sciencemanaged to use this natural mechanism of plants, algae and cyanobacteria to generate electricity.

It actually makes sense because electricity is still the result current made up of electrons. During photosynthesis, sunlight activates electron transport chain used by photosynthetic organisms for energy. But what happens if we also use this energy?

In search of new forms of electricity

The goal of these scientists was to develop new forms of energy to power what is known as Internet of Things. It’s not what we use on our mobile phone to watch Twitter, send WhatsApp messages or read similar articles. It is the Internet that maintains communication between objects such as household appliances, vehicles, or environmental sensors. They can be found in remote places where electricity supply it shines with its absence.

For this reason, these scientists thought that they could generate electricity using photovoltaic cells, which use solar energy. The problem was the need for batteries, which represent an increase in mass and, in addition, can lead to the use toxic substances.

Then they decided to look for natural methods that also use solar energy, but without the need for conventional batteries. This inevitably suggests photosynthesis. It is still a natural mechanism that uses sunlight for energy. Using geranium would be ineffective. They needed something smaller and easier to grow, so they thought of blue-green algae, or more properly algae. cyanobacteria.

In particular, they focused on gender Synechocystis, a bluish-green freshwater algae that is very ubiquitous. That is, they are widely distributed throughout the planet.

Piles based on blue-green algae

During photosynthesis, photons from sunlight excite a pigment present in cellular compartments called chloroplasts, causing it to lose electrons. They will travel for transport chain are made up of different molecules gain and lose electronscontributing to the generation of current.

What happens in the end is something similar to what happens in a battery, in which a material called anodeoxidizes and loses electrons, which move to another, known as cathode. In this case, both mechanisms were mixed, since his invention contained an anode made of aluminum filaments, which is easier to recycle than other materials used in the manufacture of batteries.

As a result photovoltaic cell biological, capable of producing four microwatts per square centimeteror. But best of all, even when left in the dark, the algae continued using their nutrient reserves and generating electricity. True, the current was weaker, but enough to keep feeding microprocessor. Using only ambient light from the lab, they were able to keep the lab running for six months.

It is true that these are not the first scientists to study the ability of algae to get electricity. However, this is the first time it’s possible to power a processor, especially for that long. Of course, although this is a very preliminary stage of research, these results are encouraging enough to continue learning along the way.