Researchers at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University in India have developed a solar cell from living algae, according to a new study (pdf). The team used the freshwater pithophoramacroalgae, a type of green algae commonly found in aquatic habitats, as a photoactive material.

How does it work? The bio-photovoltaic device exhibits electrical properties under UV light by sandwiching the algal biofilm between a carbon-coated copper electrode and a titanium oxide-coated fluorine-doped tin oxide electrode. The device, measuring just 1 sqcm, generated an open-circuit voltage of 0.35 V and a short-circuit current of 10.19 μA. Remarkably, when exposed to UV light, the device’s performance increased, showing a photocurrent of 1.25 mA and a photovoltage of 0.5 V.

Looking ahead: The technology does not use expensive or toxic materials and leverages renewable resources. The team's findings also suggest potential applications in low-power IoT-based devices, indicating a bright future for this innovative approach to harnessing solar energy. However, challenges such as low efficiency and scalability still need to be addressed.

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