Scientists are repurposing their research about bacteria-powered biobatteries into a new idea for artificial plants that can feed off carbon dioxide, give off oxygen and even generate a little power.
On average, Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, and the air we breathe at work, school or home affects our overall health and well-being. Most air purification systems, however, are expensive, cumbersome and require frequent cleaning or filter replacement to function at optimum levels.
They outline their results, which is partially supported by the Office of Naval Research, in a paper recently published by the journal"Especially after going through COVID-19, we know the significance of indoor air quality," said Choi, a faculty member in the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering."Many sources can generate very toxic materials, like building materials and carpets.
Although power generation around 140 microwatts is a secondary benefit, Choi hopes to improve the technology to achieve a minimum output of more than 1 milliwatt. He also wants to integrate an energy storage system, such as lithium-ion batteries or supercapacitors.Other upgrades could include using multiple bacteria species to ensure long-term viability and developing ways to minimize maintenance, such as water and nutrient delivery systems.
For hundreds of millions of years plants have had the ability to harness carbon dioxide from the air using solar energy. The research network is on the trail of building artificial cells as ...
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