In 1839, French physicist Edmond Becquerel identified the photovoltaic effect – a discovery that laid the groundwork for modern solar technology. Almost two hundred years later, researchers from Canada have revealed what is likely the biggest advancement in photovoltaic science since that initial breakthrough. A group of researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is developing a “living” bioluminescent bacteria-powered solar cell, which can generate electricity, including during cloudy or overcast skies — something many believed would never happen with solar technology.
Biogenic solar cells offer a new horizon
Photovoltaic cells generally require a lot of direct sunlight, making their operation less successful in areas with high cloud cover, such as British Columbia and Northern Europe. Biogenic solar cells (cells constructed using living organisms) offer a new horizon; however, until recently, researchers were unable to overcome the barriers related to both efficiency and cost.
The researchers, who worked at UBC, were able to break down the barriers to efficiency and cost through an extremely simple modification of the method — instead of taking the photosynthetic dye from the bacteria, they chose to keep the dye within the living bacteria.
The earlier approaches required the use of toxic solvents to extract the dye, a process that caused a loss of photosynthetic pigment and significantly increased the cost of manufacturing.
Researchers developed a functioning photovoltaic device
To convert photons absorbed by the lycopene into electrical energy, researchers placed a mineral (capable of operating as a semiconductor) on top of the lycopene-producing bacteria. The resulting hybrid biological-mineral material was then placed on a glass substrate (acting as the anode of the solar cell). This resulted in a functioning photovoltaic device, combining the properties of biology and materials science into a single, elegant construct.
The results exceeded expectations. The researchers reported a current density of 0.686 milliamperes per square centimeter — almost double the best values previously reported for biogenic solar cells (0.362 mA/cm2). Project lead Professor Vikramaditya Yadav reports that this value represents the highest current density reported to date for such a device.
Biogenic solar cells: Low-cost, environmentally friendly, and extremely scalable
One of the most exciting aspects of UBC’s innovation is its potential for cost-effectiveness. By eliminating dye extraction, the researchers believe that the cost of producing dye for the pigment could be cut by up to 90% — representing a major advance towards the development of affordable, commercially viable production processes.
Additionally, because the biogenic solar cells employ living organisms, researchers believe that it should eventually be possible to design the bacteria to continue to produce dye throughout the manufacturing process without suffering degradation. If this “Holy Grail” of sustainable solar cells is achieved, biogenic solar cells could potentially be produced as self-renewing and at costs significantly lower than those of silicon-based photovoltaic cells.
Another benefit of biogenic solar cells is environmental sustainability
Biogenic solar cells are manufactured using low-toxicity materials and require minimal energy to manufacture. They also appear to have the potential for niche applications (e.g., mining, deep-sea exploration, etc.) in low-light environments where traditional photovoltaic systems will not operate.
What is perhaps most impressive about these bioluminescent “living” solar cells is their ability to operate at peak efficiency in low-light conditions — performing equally well on cloudy days as on sunny days.
From Becquerel’s first observation of the photovoltaic effect in 1839 to today’s living, light-harvesting bacterial cells, solar technology has evolved in ways that are truly amazing. The biogenic solar breakthrough from UBC represents one of the most compelling advances along the way — combining genetic engineering, materials science, and sustainability to develop a solar cell that finally breaks the dependence on direct sunlight. This is a landmark achievement — indicating that the next generation of photovoltaics may not be built so much as grown.
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If you want to learn more about this invention, you can check the full study here: Srivastava, S. K., Piwek, P., Ayakar, S. R., Bonakdarpour, A., Wilkinson, D. P., & Yadav, V. G. (2018). A biogenic photovoltaic material. Small, 14(26), 1800729