A biological solar panel

Abstract

We report a prototype scalable and stackable biological solar panel by installing miniature biological solar cells in an array format. Nine small-scale biological solar cells were integrated in a panel along with a common feed microfluidic channel. The biological solar panel continuously generated electricity from microbial photosynthetic and respiratory activities under day-night cycles. Requiring only sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to operate, the biological solar panel offers advantages over potentially competing sustainable power sources such as microbial fuel cell stacks or photovoltaic panels because the photosynthetic microorganisms used here a) do not require an organic fuel, and b) are capable of producing power both during the day and at night.