Most people spend about 90% of their time indoors, which makes the quality of the air we breathe at home, work, or school extremely important for our health.
However, many air purifiers are expensive, require regular maintenance, and need frequent filter replacements to work well.
Now, researchers from Binghamton University, Professor Seokheun “Sean” Choi and Ph.D. student Maryam Rezaie, have developed an exciting new idea—artificial plants that not only clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen but also generate small amounts of electricity.
They based this project on their earlier research into bacteria-powered biobatteries and shared their findings in the journal Advanced Sustainable Systems.
“After COVID-19, people have become more aware of how important indoor air quality is,” said Professor Choi.
“Things like building materials, carpets, and even cooking can release harmful chemicals, and carbon dioxide levels rise in closed spaces.”
Choi and Rezaie began by making an artificial leaf using five biological solar cells and photosynthetic bacteria, just for fun.
But when they saw how effective it was at capturing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, they realized their idea had much broader potential. They built an artificial plant with five leaves and tested how well it worked.
While the plant’s ability to generate electricity (around 140 microwatts) is currently a secondary feature, Choi aims to improve it.
His goal is to reach a power output of at least 1 milliwatt and eventually use that energy to charge small devices like cell phones. He also plans to add an energy storage system, such as lithium-ion batteries or supercapacitors.
Choi hopes to make these artificial plants even more efficient and low-maintenance by using multiple types of bacteria and incorporating water and nutrient systems. “With some improvements, these artificial plants could become a common household item,” he said. “The advantages are clear.”
Source: Binghamton University.
