Biogenic solar cells generated a current stronger than any previously recorded and worked as efficiently in low light as in bright light.
--> Solar cells are the building blocks of the solar panels. They do the work of converting light into electrical current. Previous effort to build biogenic solar cells have focused on extracting.
The natural dye that bacteria use for photosynthesis. Its a costly and complex process that involves toxic solvents and can cause the dye to degrade.
--> The new solution involves genetically engineered E.coli bacteria to produce large amounts of lycopene.
A dye that gives tomatoes their red-orange color. And is particularly effective at harvesting light for conversion to energy.
--> The researchers then coated the bacteria with a mineral this special mineral acts as a semiconductor.
And applied the mixture to a glass surface.
--> Researchers were able to generate a current density of 0.686 milliamps per cm3. An improvement in the 0.362 achieved by others in the field. The process reduces the cost of dye production to about -one-tenth of what it would be otherwise.
--> The next goal would be finding a process that doesn't kill the bacteria.
So they can keep producing dye indefinitely without needing to be replaced.
--> There are other potential applications for these biogenic materials.
--> In mining, deep- sea exploration and other low-light environments. This innovation could be a step towards a wider adoption of solar power. In places like British Columbia and parts of northern Europe where overcast skies are a common occurrence.
With further development, these "biogenic" cells could become as efficient as the synthetic cells used in conventional solar panels.
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