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Photosynthesis, a new source of electrical energy
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert solar energy into chemical energy. In the presence of visible light, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) are turned into glucose and oxygen (O2).
Researchers from Bordeaux have succeeded in transforming the chemical energy from photosynthesis into electrical energy using a biocell. Thanks to its electrodes highly sensitive to O2 and glucose, once implanted inside a cactus, they managed to follow the evolution of photosynthesis in vivo in real time. They observed an increase in electrical current when a lamp is lit and a decrease when it is switched off. Thanks to these experiments, the researchers were also able to follow for the first time and in real time the evolution of glucose during photosynthesis.
This biocell can generate 9 µW/cm2. The efficiency is proportional to the lighting intensity : a more intense illumination speeds up the production of glucose and O2 (photosynthesis), which means there is more fuel to operate the biocell and the current generated increases.
The objective of this work is the development of a biocell that would operate under the skin and could therefore power implanted medical devices, such as autonomous subcutaneous sensors that measure glucose in diabetic patients, for example. In the distant future, this device could also provide a new strategy for converting solar energy into electrical energy in an ecological and renewable manner.
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