Scientists seek to generate electricity from ... air

Scientists from the University of Massachusetts have just announced how to create electricity . air through a special creature.

This unusual bacterium belongs to the genus Geobacter, first recorded for its ability to generate magnetism in the absence of oxygen. But over time, scientists have found it can create other things like conductive bacterial nanowires.

For the next several years, researchers have been trying to find a way to make good use of that natural gift and they could create a special device called the Air-gen. According to the team, their device can generate good electricity.

They found it buried in the mud of the Potomac River more than three decades ago.It's a strange "sedimentary creature" that can do things never before seen in bacteria.

"We actually generate electricity from the air. Air-gen generates clean energy 24/7," says electrical engineer Jun Yao from the University of Massachusetts.

It sounds quite unrealistic, but new research by Yao and his team describes how air-powered generators can actually generate electricity with nothing but the presence of air around it. This is all thanks to the conductive protein nanowires produced by Geobacter.

The Air-gen will consist of a thin film of protein nanowires that are just 7 micrometers thick, between two electrodes that are exposed to the air.

Because of that contact, the nanowire membrane can absorb the moisture that exists in the atmosphere, allowing the device to generate a continuous current flowing between the two electrodes.

The team says the charge is likely generated by a moisture that creates diffusion of protons in the nanowire material.

"This charge diffusion is expected to produce a counterbalance electric field or potential similar to the resting membrane potential in biological systems. The moisture gradient is maintained, fundamentally different from anything seen in previous systems, explaining the continuous voltage output from our nanowire devices , " the authors explain in their study.

The discovery was made almost by accident, when Yao realized the devices he was testing were controlling electricity on their own.

"I found that when the nanowires were exposed to the electrodes in a specific way the devices generated electric current. Exposure to air humidity was essential and the protein nanowires absorbed water, creating a voltage range on the device , ' Yao emphasized.

Previous research has demonstrated the generation of hydroelectric power using other types of nanomaterials such as graphene, but these efforts have largely only produced short electrical explosions, perhaps lasting only. in a few seconds.

In contrast, the Air-gen generates a maintenance voltage of about 0.5 volts, with a current density of about 17 micrograms per square centimeter. That's not a lot of power, but the team says connecting multiple devices can generate enough power to charge small devices like smartphones and other personal electronic devices. The special thing is that all have no waste and use nothing but the surrounding humidity.

Once we reach the industrial scale for production, scientists expect to be able to create large systems that will make a major contribution to sustainable energy production.

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