Algal biophotovoltaic devices: Surface potential studies
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2020
Abstract
The exploitation of renewable energy sources for delivering carbon-neutral or carbon-negative solutions has been accomplished through the strategies involving the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. Algae-fuel is deemed to play a major role in this emerging carbon-negative market via the bioelectricity generation using biophotovoltaic (BPV) cells. Accordingly, we investigate the bioelectricity generation of a freshwater green alga strain from Japan, Chlorella vulgaris (NIES-642), using carbon paper and indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrodes. The ITO equipped BPV demonstrates the maximum power output of 0.25 mW m(-2), which is remarkably higher than carbon-paper-based BPV (0.21 mW m(-2),). The surface potential studies were conducted to understand the electron transfer at the interface of algal biofilm and electrodes using the Kelvin probe method. The minimal surface potential difference (0.2 V) observed for ITO compared to those of other processed electrodes demonstrates the maximum BPV power generation, owing to its lower electrical resistivity and higher electron donor/acceptor capacity.
Keywords
Algal biophotovoltaic device, Bioelectricity, Biotechnology, Surface potential, Algal biofilm
Divisions
PHYSICS,advanced,ocean
Funders
Newton Prize IF008-2018,Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) Fund, Ministry of Education, Malaysia IOES-2014F,UM Algae Grant GA003-2012
Publication Title
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
Volume
8
Issue
28
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Publisher Location
1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA