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Researchers have created a bionic mushroom that could one day help illuminate our homes
In a new study published Wednesday in the journal Nano Letters, researchers have explained how they created a mushroom capable of producing its own electricity . The researcher Manu Mannoor, of the Stevens Institute of Technology, and his colleagues created fungi generating electricity by integrating cyanobacteria capable of producing electricity with nanoscale materials capable of collecting the current.
Like plants, cyanobacteria, blue-green bacteria, can create their own energy through photosynthesis. The researchers said that microbes are known in the bioengineering community for their ability to create electricity. Unfortunately, cyanobacteria do not last long because the artificial surfaces used to house them do not allow the bacteria to grow long enough. In the new study, the researchers said they found in the fungus properties allowing the bacteria to survive longer while generating electricity.
Mannoor and his colleagues used a 3D printer to create two types of electronic ink patterns. One contains bacteria and the other, graphene nanoribbons to collect the current. These patterns were then placed on the cap of the mushroom. Mannoor told USA Today that they had incorporated the microbes and fungus in ways that allowed the cyanobacteria to produce energy through photosynthesis, while the fungus provided shelter for this task.
Sudeep Joshi
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Stevens Institute of Technology
Mannoor stated that this shelter contains moisture and other biophysiological conditions allowing bacteria to grow Longer. The geometry of the mushroom head also provides abundant sunlight.
The researchers illuminated the fungus to stimulate photosynthesis of the bacteria and trigger the photocurrent. The fungus was able to produce a current of about 65 nanoAmps. This may not be powerful enough to power a device, but the researchers said using several of these fungi could generate enough power to turn on an LED.
According to a statement from the Stevens Institute of Technology, the work could pave non-traditional way of fighting climate change. The researchers also believe that cyanobacteria have a feeding potential for other applications. "With this work, we can imagine huge opportunities for next-generation bio-hybrid applications," Mannoor said. "For example, some bacteria can shine, while others detect toxins or produce fuel. By fully integrating these microbes into nanomaterials, we could potentially achieve many other bio-hybrids of amazing designers for the environment, defense, healthcare and many other areas. "
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