Scientists test "hamburger bacteria" to make solar panels that also work on cloudy days

To avoid the problem of cloudy days and to improve its functioning, researchers at the University of British Columbia discovered a method to improve the current solar panels . developed other biogenic solar cells (created with living organisms), which exploit the natural components of batteries to photosynthesis and convert sunlight into energy.

Scientists used the ] Escherichia Coli genetically engineered bacteria to produce a large amount of lycopene, the molecule that gives tomatoes their orange / red hue. Lycopene is an excellent natural dye and is very good at harvesting sunlight. Its coloration is also adapted to a wider range of climatic conditions. In some parts of Canada, this would be important because it could capture solar energy even in cloudy weather

As reported by the university the team recovered E. coli from a mineral that can be used as a semiconductor . Then they applied the bacteria / mineral mixture to a glbad surface. So, they built their biogenic solar cell. The tests showed a current density of 0.686 milliamperes per square centimeter, almost double the previous record for this type of cell.

"We record the highest current density for a biogenic solar cell," said the project manager. Professor Vikramaditya Yadav. "These hybrid materials that we develop can be economically and durably manufactured, and with sufficient optimization they could operate with efficiencies comparable to those of conventional solar cells ," he concluded.

Yadav believes that this approach, in addition to being more efficient, will also be more economical. The problem? Bacteria, for the moment, do not survive the process . Researchers are now working on a way to keep them alive, so that they can produce energy indefinitely.