Abstract
Conversion of solar energy into electrical current by photosynthetic organisms has the potential to produce clean energy. Previously reported living-organism based bio-photoelectrochemical cells (BPECs) have utilized unicellular photosynthetic microorganisms. In this study, we describe for the first time BPECs that utilize intact live marine macroalgae (seaweeds) in saline buffer or natural seawater. The BPECs produce photoelectrical currents of > 50 mA/cm2, with a dark current reduced by only 50%, values that are significantly greater than the current densities reported for single-cell microorganisms. The photocurrent is inhibited by the Photosystem II inhibitor DCMU, indicating that the source of light-driven electrons is from the oxygen evolution reaction. We show here that intact seaweed cultures can be used in a large-scale BPEC containing seawater that produces bias-free photocurrent. The ability to produce bioelectricity from intact seaweeds may pave the way to development of new live tissue based BPECs and establishment of future low-cost energy technologies.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
