Researchers at Concordia University’s Optical-Bio Microsystems Lab have taken a significant step towards sustainable energy production with their development of microalgae power cells. Published recently in the journal Energies, this technology harnesses the power of algae photosynthesis to generate electricity for low-power devices.
Algae offers a particularly promising solution. Unlike traditional power sources, algae power cells don’t just avoid creating carbon emissions – they actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. This “negative carbon emission” technology provides electricity while cleaning the air.
The microalgae power cell is a small device containing algae suspended in a specialized solution. Light triggers photosynthesis in the algae, causing them to release electrons. The cell captures these electrons using microelectrodes, converting them into a usable electric current. The process continues at a reduced level even without direct sunlight, thanks to the algae’s natural respiration.
The fabrication process avoids hazardous materials and uses biocompatible polymers, making them both inexpensive and environmentally friendly to dispose of. This is a stark contrast to traditional silicon-based solar cells.
“Our system does not use any of the hazardous gases or microfibres needed for the silicon fabrication technology that photovoltaic cells rely on. Furthermore, disposing of silicon computer chips is not easy. We use biocompatible polymers, so the whole system is easily decomposable and very cheap to manufacture,” explained Muthukumaran Packirisamy, professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering and the paper’s corresponding author.
While current prototypes can’t compete with larger power generation systems, the researchers see immense potential in this technology. They believe that further research and development, potentially aided by artificial intelligence, can transform these microalgae power cells into a viable, affordable, and clean energy source for powering low-power devices like Internet of Things (IoT) sensors.
