Concordia scientists develop microalgae power cells for low-power devices

Scientists from Concordia Universitys Optical-Bio Microsystems Lab has taken a significant step towards sustainable energy production with the development of microalgae energy cells. Recently published in Energie magazine, This technology harnesses the potential of algae photosynthesis to generate electricity for low-power devices.

Algae offer a particularly promising solution. Unlike traditional power sources, algae power cells don’t just avoid carbon dioxide emissions – they actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. This “carbon negative” technology provides electricity while purifying 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 with microelectrodes, converting them into a usable electrical current. This process continues at a reduced level even without direct sunlight, thanks to the algae’s natural respiration.

The manufacturing process avoids hazardous materials and uses biocompatible polymers, making them 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 microfibers needed for the silicon manufacturing technology that photovoltaic cells rely on. In addition, silicon computer chips are not easy to dispose of. We use biocompatible polymers, so the entire system is easily degradable and very cheap to produce,” explained Muthukumaran Packirisamy, a professor in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering and the corresponding author of the paper.

While current prototypes can’t compete with larger power-generating systems, the researchers see huge potential in the technology. They believe that further research and development, potentially aided by artificial intelligence, could transform these microalgae energy cells into a viable, affordable, and clean source of energy for powering low-power devices like Internet of Things (IoT) sensors.