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News: Could plants help power smartphones and other devices?

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 3:37 am
by hi_tech_guy_18
Note: You may need a UK proxy, vpn for the video

Could plants help power smartphones and other devices?
"Scientists at Cambridge University are investigating how algae and land plants could be used to create a "biological solar panel" that could help power devices including smartphones."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33424123

Have to say the seem very simple to make with
Sicky tape
Positive electrode:
carbon fibre,
carbon paper, and a catalyst: Platinum layer (nanometer)
paper
blob of algae

Negitive electrode:
stainless steel wire mesh

- on the bigger scale

you can expand on this idea to make
Solid algae Fuel + algae biodiesel

- Solar Electricity as you grow them
after they lived and died
- Solid Fuel pellets for Stoves / livestock feed / bio digester
- biodiesel for heating and generators

in a diy sence you can get the Platinum from catalytic converters and grind the thing down

Re: News: Could plants help power smartphones and other devi

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:37 am
by techman
Interesting. Have you tried this yourself yet?

How many volts/amps are produced by the little experiment?