A UK research team has worked on the creation of an AA battery that will be powered by algae. The tiny fuel cells are intended to produce energy that can be used in today’s smartphones, like other devices. Light, water and blue-green algae are the raw materials to be used for the batteries.
Researchers have posited that “batteries rely heavily on expensive and unsustainable materials.” As a result, these harvesters are more durable and have less adverse effects on the environment. The sun, through photosynthesis, allows the device to generate energy to be used to power the microprocessors.
AA battery and low cost
The scientists tested this battery on an Arm Cortex M0+ over a period of 6 months. This small, low-power chip is often found in Internet-connected devices. The photovoltaic cell was tested in both domestic and semi-outdoor conditions.
The researchers sought to understand the fluctuation of battery behavior in different settings. The most important claim of this work is that the device always remained on. The project managers at the University of Cambridge have been surprised by the consistency of the system’s performance.
Although light is a key element for photosynthesis, the cell has continued to function even at night. According to the researchers, this situation is caused by algae. There, the process continues to take place due to the feeding of the same so that the system maintains its operation even at night.
