Titanium dioxide nanoparticles in nutrient solution for enhancement of power density generated from plant fuel cell

Abstract

Plants have ability to convert solar energy into chemical energy in photosynthetic process to produce their own food. Under this process, chlorophyll molecules in plant cell are excited and cascade transferring a high energy electron to the accepters, therefore the electrical currents are generated in this plant system. This current is thinking as the alternative power resources in the future. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is widely used in photocatalysis in semiconductors because of large bandgap polymorphs of this particles. This substance enhances an absorbing light of different wavelengths owing to their electronic structure. In this experiment, TiO2 nanoparticles are added up into different concentrations of nutrient solution under plant fuel cell system, in order to study the generation of electric power. The cathode and anode electrodes, in the system were zinc steel and polypropylene mixed with CNTs. Electrical potentials and currents of plant fuel cell system with TiO2 are detected and recorded in comparison to that of system without TiO2. Plant fuel cell system, adding TiO2 nanoparticles enhances the current density and voltage in comparison to the non TiO2 system, depending on the concentration of nutrient solution medium and detection time. TiO2 nanoparticle adding in liquid nutrient of plant fuel cell enhance the electric power density, because this particle may improve an absorption of light radiation. The process may increase the oxidation of water and soluble nutrients which escalate the level of total ionic charges in the fuel system. The charges were separated and transferred to the specific electrodes that will be affected on power density generating from the fuel cell system.