Harnessing Electricity From Photosynthesis: The 2015 Algae Power Breakthrough

In October 2015, an optical bio-engineering research team led by Professor Muthukumaran Packirisamy at Concordia University in Montreal published a breakthrough study detailing micro-photosynthetic power cells capable of capturing electrical current from blue-green algae.

The Science of Bio-Photovoltaics

Photosynthesis and cellular respiration in cyanobacteria naturally produce electron transfer chains. The Concordia research team designed a micro-scale electrochemical cell containing an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a proton exchange membrane. As the algae underwent photosynthesis under sunlight exposure, electrons were harvested directly from the solution and channelled into an external circuit.

Potential Future Applications

While micro-photosynthetic cells produce modest electrical outputs compared to standard silicon photovoltaics, the biological cells operate continuously across day and night cycles through respiration. The technology opened up compelling possibilities for self-sustaining, carbon-neutral micro-power sources in remote environmental monitoring stations and medical implants.