Computer has been working with algae for over a year

British researchers have succeeded in continuously supplying electricity to a microprocessor over a long period of time using blue-green algae.

system, which is the size of a file AA . batteryhas the potential to become a power source for small devices such as those in The Internet of things Come into use, as stated in one message The Cambridge University.

For their experimental preparation, the British researchers used a non-toxic type of algae called synchronousby Photosynthesis Gaining energy from the sun. Then the small amounts of electrical energy gained in this way react with a aluminum pole It is used to run the processor.

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In the experiment conducted with the British chip developer poor fellow It was implemented and was scheduled for 6 months, a microprocessor from the company that Cortex M0 +, to use. It is very economical and also commonly used in IoT devices. The experiment was conducted, the researchers wrote, in a “semi-outdoor home environment, with normal lighting conditions and usual temperature fluctuations. Specifically, the system stood on a window sill from February to August 2021.”

The computer was running in 45-minute cycles, calculating the sum of consecutive numbers. Such a required course 0.3 microns perfomance. Post-standby mode is needed 0.24 μWshe says new world. There was no power outage during the experiment. Even months after the experiment ended, the system continued to produce electricity.

“We were impressed by how well the system kept working over a long period of time,” says the biochemist. Paulo Bombelli Cited by Cambridge University. He is also the lead author of a study about the experiment published last week Published in Energy & Environmental Science.

It also works in the dark

Algae produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis. And despite the need for light, the device can continue to produce electricity even in times of darkness, according to the researchers. They believe this is because the algae process some of their food when there is no light, and continue to generate electricity.

The growing field of the Internet of Things – from smart watches Until sensors – You need more and more energy. This should come from systems that generate energy rather than simply storing it in batteries, said the biochemist and co-author of the study. Christopher Howe. Supplying electricity to devices using lithium-ion batteries, for example, is not only harmful to the environment, but it will not be possible sooner or later because of the quantities of lithium required for this.

The British researchers’ system consists of common, inexpensive, highly recyclable materials that can easily be mass-produced. Commercially can be in 5 years It is said to be used.