Post by account_disabled on Feb 28, 2024 4:59:55 GMT -5
Blue-green algae can power a microprocessor continuously for a year.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a vast and growing network of electronic devices, each of which uses only a small amount of energy. Sustainable, affordable and decentralized sources of electrical energy are required to power this growing grid. It would be impractical to power trillions of Internet of Things devices with lithium-ion batteries, and traditional photovoltaic devices are made from hazardous materials that have adverse environmental effects.
Now, researchers at the University of Cambridge have used a widespread species of blue-green algae to power a microprocessor continuously for more than a year using nothing more than ambient light and water.
The Cambridge team sealed Synechocystis, a type of non-toxic algae that harvests energy from the sun through photosynthesis, inside a transparent compartment. The small electrical current it ge C Level Executive List nerates interacts with an aluminum electrode and is used to power an Arm Cortex M+, a low-power microprocessor commonly used in Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
It is comparable in size to an AA battery and is built from common, durable, inexpensive and largely recyclable materials. This means it could easily be replicated hundreds of thousands of times to power a large number of small devices as part of the Internet of Things. Additionally, it is likely to be most useful in off-grid situations or remote locations, where small amounts of power can be very beneficial.
The proposed energy harvester has operated the Arm Cortex M+ for more than six months in a home environment and in semi-outdoor conditions with natural light and associated temperature fluctuations. The team argues that this type of solution can be used to guarantee the supply of electricity to various small appliances without the need for rare materials such as batteries.
“We were impressed with how consistently the system worked over a long period of time; We thought it might stop after a few weeks, but it kept working,” said Dr. Paolo Bombelli from the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge.
The team says the device can even continue producing power during periods of darkness. They believe this is because blue-green algae process some of their food when there is no light, and this continues to generate an electrical current. This algae-based energy harvester does not generate a large amount of energy, but it is enough for IoT devices.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a vast and growing network of electronic devices, each of which uses only a small amount of energy. Sustainable, affordable and decentralized sources of electrical energy are required to power this growing grid. It would be impractical to power trillions of Internet of Things devices with lithium-ion batteries, and traditional photovoltaic devices are made from hazardous materials that have adverse environmental effects.
Now, researchers at the University of Cambridge have used a widespread species of blue-green algae to power a microprocessor continuously for more than a year using nothing more than ambient light and water.
The Cambridge team sealed Synechocystis, a type of non-toxic algae that harvests energy from the sun through photosynthesis, inside a transparent compartment. The small electrical current it ge C Level Executive List nerates interacts with an aluminum electrode and is used to power an Arm Cortex M+, a low-power microprocessor commonly used in Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
It is comparable in size to an AA battery and is built from common, durable, inexpensive and largely recyclable materials. This means it could easily be replicated hundreds of thousands of times to power a large number of small devices as part of the Internet of Things. Additionally, it is likely to be most useful in off-grid situations or remote locations, where small amounts of power can be very beneficial.
The proposed energy harvester has operated the Arm Cortex M+ for more than six months in a home environment and in semi-outdoor conditions with natural light and associated temperature fluctuations. The team argues that this type of solution can be used to guarantee the supply of electricity to various small appliances without the need for rare materials such as batteries.
“We were impressed with how consistently the system worked over a long period of time; We thought it might stop after a few weeks, but it kept working,” said Dr. Paolo Bombelli from the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge.
The team says the device can even continue producing power during periods of darkness. They believe this is because blue-green algae process some of their food when there is no light, and this continues to generate an electrical current. This algae-based energy harvester does not generate a large amount of energy, but it is enough for IoT devices.