Have you ever thought it was possible to generate electricity from plants? Well, in Spain, scientists experimented on moss and discovered that it can indeed generate electrical power. In this article, you will learn about this photovoltaic moss and how it can be used to produce electricity. Have a seat and let’s dive right in!
How is the moss plant able to generate energy?
Moss is a flowerless plant that grows mostly in moist areas. And just like any other plant, it relies on sunlight to produce its food for survival. Now, what’s the connection between this biological process and the generation of electricity? These two processes are worlds apart from each other. However, the development of a new technology called biophotovoltaics has created a link between them, making moss a power-generating plant.
The connection between biology and technology
During photosynthesis, moss uses light energy from the sun to break down carbon dioxide into organic compounds and oxygen. Organic compounds produced by the moss are passed down into the soil, where they are broken down by bacteria to release some byproducts. An important byproduct of this process is electrons. These electrons generated can be collected with the aid of the photovoltaic electrodes and used to generate electrical power. Therefore, moss plants in combination with this new technology can be used to create a biophotovoltaic cell to generate electrical power.
Photovoltaic moss is special and preferable to other plants
This technology can work for some other plants because, just like moss, they also undergo photosynthesis and generate electrons. But what makes moss more special and eligible for this system? This plant has specific features uncommon to other plants.
Mosses can grow anywhere and can adapt to any adverse situation. They grow mostly in cold, damp areas as they need moisture to survive. However, they can survive in prolonged drought and return to life after a few hours of rehydration. Some other features include:
- Increased water absorption
- Reduced weight load
- Reduced need for fertilizers
- Low maintenance.
Because of these features, moss can grow in different environments, like on walls, between pavements, and on roofs. Therefore, they can withstand the environment of a biophotovoltaic cell, just like this game-changing photovoltaic technology revolutionizing how we generate energy.
How does a biophotovoltaic cell work?
This technology is a bioelectric system where electrical energy is generated from photovoltaic moss. The cell is an organization of units that are connected in series or parallel. A unit is made up of the anode, the cathode, the anodic biological material (moss), and the salt bridge, which allows protons to travel from the anodic biological material to the cathode. The anode is made of hydrogel and carbon fibers, which are built to attract electrons. The hydrogel also maintains a neutral pH, and because it can absorb water about 400 times its weight, it creates a conducive humid environment for the photovoltaic moss.
These electronic materials do not affect the metabolism of the photovoltaic moss
There were worries that the materials used to create this cell would affect the metabolism of the photovoltaic moss. Therefore, to investigate this further, a test was done to check how the fibers coexist with the moss and polyacrylate. One unit 100x100mm of the anode was mixed with carbon fibers and hydrogel in cubes, and a layer of carbon fabric. This entire mixture was covered with moss. A voltage of 0.35 volts was emitted from this cell, showing that the materials do not cause harm to the survival of the moss plant.
A biophotovoltaic cell is considered cheaper to produce when compared to silicon-based photovoltaic cells. Aside from being cheap, it is also self-replicating, biodegradable, and more sustainable. This biotechnology can serve as a viable option in places where solar panels are ineffective.
The biophotovoltaic cell isn’t just generating electricity from photosynthesis directly. Rather, it uses photosynthesis to maintain a microbial community, which in turn generates electricity. This technology works because of the unique qualities of moss, which are rarely seen in other plants. It’s very useful in regions with low access to the grid, just like this Finnish renewable energy project.
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