The University of Cambridge has created a computer system that is powered by the sun's rays. The small cell uses the sunlight to generate electrical current, which is about the size of a AA battery. The system had been running continuously for a year and the current generated is enough to power a chip.
The researchers think the system would be useful for small devices in remote locations.
The algae in the system doesn't need any additional food other than sunlight, and it even continues to produce power at night because it continues the process of photosynthesis for a time even when there isn't light present. The electrical current generated by the algae is sent to an aluminum electrode from where it can be sent to the processor.
To test the system, the researchers hooked up the device to an Arm Cortex M0+ processor, a highly efficient processor which is typically used in Internet of Things devices. It performed better than the researchers expected when it was left in semi- outdoor conditions with typical variations in temperature and sunlight.
Paolo Bombelli said that they were impressed by how consistently the system worked over a long period of time.
The researchers hope that systems like this one, which is made from cheap and widely available materials, could help replace expensivelithium-ion batteries or traditional photovoltaic systems which use environmentally hazardous materials, especially with the predicted growth of Internet of Things devices.
The journal Energy & Environmental Science has published the research.
Recommended video
All Rights Reserved © 2024
