Apr
14
The First Bacteria Powered Solar Panel
April 14, 2016 | 1 Comment
Binghamton University researchers connected nine biological-solar (bio-solar) cells into a bio-solar panel. Then they continuously produced electricity from the panel and generated the most wattage of any existing small-scale bio-solar cells – 5.59 microwatts.
These are nine biological-solar (bio-solar) cells connected into a bio-solar panel. The panel has generated the most wattage of any existing small-scale bio-solar cells – 5.59 microwatts. Image Credit: Seokheun “Sean” Choi. Click image for the largest view.
They say euphorically in their press release, “Researchers have taken the next step in the evolution of bacteria-powered energy.” Your humble author offers congratulations for the breakthrough progress.
Seokheun “Sean” Choi, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering in Binghamton University’s Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, and co-author of their research paper said, “Once a functional bio-solar panel becomes available, it could become a permanent power source for supplying long-term power for small, wireless telemetry systems as well as wireless sensors used at remote sites where frequent battery replacement is impractical.”
Other principle team members are Xuejian Wei, a graduate student in the department, and Hankeun Lee ’15, who will graduate from Binghamton in May.
Choi fills us in on the opportunity for the science with, “This research could also enable crucial understanding of the photosynthetic extracellular electron transfer processes in a smaller group of microorganisms with excellent control over the microenvironment, thereby enabling a versatile platform for fundamental bio-solar cell studies.”
This current research is the latest step in using cyanobacteria (which can be found in almost every terrestrial and aquatic habitat on the planet) as a source of clean and sustainable energy. Last year, the group took steps toward building a better bio-solar cell by changing the materials used in anodes and cathodes (positive and negative terminals) of the cell and also created a miniature microfluidic-based single-chambered device to house the bacteria instead of the conventional, dual-chambered bio-solar cells.
However, this time the team connected nine identical bio-solar cells in a 3×3 pattern to make a scalable and stackable bio-solar panel. The panel continuously generated electricity from photosynthesis and respiratory activities of the bacteria in 12-hour day-night cycles over 60 total hours.
In the press release the ream reports, “Bio-solar cell performance has improved significantly through miniaturizing innovative device architectures and connecting multiple miniature cells in a panel. This could result in barrier-transcending advancements in bio-solar cells that could facilitate higher power/voltage generation with self-sustainability, releasing bio-solar cell technology from its restriction to research settings, and translating it to practical applications in real-world.”
So, breakthrough for certain there is still a bit of reality. Even with the breakthrough, a typical “traditional” solar panel on the roof of a residential house, made up of 60 cells in a 6×10 configuration, generates roughly 200 watts of electrical power at a given moment. The cells from this study, in a similar configuration, would generate about 0.00003726 watts.
The biological-solar cell isn’t efficient just yet, but the findings open the door to future research of the bacteria itself. It works, threshold crossed.
Choi said, “It is time for breakthroughs that can maximize power-generating capabilities/energy efficiency/sustainability. The metabolic pathways of cyanobacteria or algae are only partially understood, and their significantly low power density and low energy efficiency make them unsuitable for practical applications. There is a need for additional basic research to clarify bacterial metabolism and energy production potential for bio-solar applications.”
Euphoria aside, Choi is a realist on the practical situation. The findings are significant and meld together two previously un-symbiotic sciences. That alone is cause for some euphoria on our part. Is certainly brings a smile of satisfaction to your humble writer with a “how about that!”
The Binghamton University Nanofabrication Lab provided the fabrication facilities for the work, while the University Research Foundation (Interdisciplinary Collaborations Grants (ICG) Program/Transdisciplinary Areas of Excellence) provided the funding.
Don’t let up guys, you just have the handful of snow at the top of the iceberg.
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Interesting. When we can expect to see it for widespread use and for which specific application will be used? Probably not only for energy collection.