Obtaining Electricity from Photosynthesis

In a finding that could have the ability to change the way our vehicles are powered, scientists have recently developed a new source of electrical energy. They managed to create a method of converting the chemical energy plants produced from photosynthesis into electricity, which means that a potentially vast source of renewable energy is now opened to researchers. Details of this achievement appear in the latest issue of the respected scientific journal Analytical Chemistry, AlphaGalileo reports.

Photosynthesis is arguably one of the most important natural processes in the entire world. Experts say that it is mainly to praise for the development of a breathable atmosphere. Basically, it's constituted from a range of complex chemical reactions, which see the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water into glucose (energy) and oxygen (O2), all in the presence of visible light. While the initial atmosphere surrounding our planet was laden with volcano-produced carbon, the earliest plants did a monumental job at clearing the air for the more complex lifeforms that followed.

In the new achievement, French scientists at the Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal (CNRS) developed a new type of biofuel cell, that functions based on the two compounds that result following natural photo photosynthesis, and namely glucose and oxygen. The system's design is very basic, as it is composed of two electrodes, that have been altered using enzymes. What's also amazing is the fact that the team managed to insert one such cell into the leaf, or spike, of a living cactus, and then watch the chemical reaction take place in vivo – which means that they observed it while the plant was alive.

The discovery could also be used in botanical research, so that experts working in this area can better understand how photosynthesis acts. In their observation, the CNRS experts also noticed the variable levels of glucose that were produced as light struck the biofuel cells. This is the first time such an observation is conducted, they say. It was additionally revealed that a single one of the new cells, inserted in a cactus leaf, could produce as much as 9 Watts of electricity per square centimeter. But one of the main applications for the new cells is as power source for medical devices, as they are able to function in live subjects. Placed under the skin, they could benefit from enough light to produce the necessary amounts of electricity to power up a variety of medical implants.