Archinect - News 2024-05-08T17:59:04-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150074270/biogenic-bacteria-powered-solar-cells-can-generate-electricity-even-under-overcast-skies Biogenic, bacteria-powered solar cells can generate electricity even under overcast skies Alexander Walter 2018-07-20T15:00:00-04:00 >2018-07-20T15:01:46-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/c8/c882a93afc7e1ac21d89e4f76a0618f1.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>Their cell generated a current stronger than any previously recorded from such a device, and worked as efficiently in dim light as in bright light. This innovation could be a step toward wider adoption of solar power in places like British Columbia and parts of northern Europe where overcast skies are common. With further development, these solar cells&mdash;called &ldquo;biogenic&rdquo; because they are made of living organisms&mdash;could become as efficient as the synthetic cells used in conventional solar panels.</p></em><br /><br /><p>While this isn't the first&nbsp;effort to build biogenic,&nbsp;<a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/480953/bacteria" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bacteria</a>-powered solar cells, scientists at the&nbsp;<a href="https://archinect.com/schools/cover/6588273/the-university-of-british-columbia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">University of British Columbia</a> claim to have <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/smll.201800729" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">discovered</a> a novel, highly cost-effective, and much more sustainable way to use the photosynthesis capabilities of certain bacteria to convert light (even dim&nbsp;light) to energy.&nbsp;</p> <p>"They genetically engineered E. coli to produce large amounts of lycopene&mdash;a dye that gives tomatoes their red-orange colour and is particularly effective at harvesting light for conversion to energy," explains the UBC announcement. "The researchers coated the bacteria with a mineral that could act as a semiconductor, and applied the mixture to a glass surface. With the coated glass acting as an anode at one end of their cell, they generated a current density of 0.686 milliamps per square centimetre&mdash;an improvement on the 0.362 achieved by others in the field."</p> <p>More research is needed to turn this newly discovered method into market-ready biogenic solar panels.</p>... https://archinect.com/news/article/98218917/the-urban-algae-canopy-shows-the-power-of-algaetecture-for-milan-expo-2015 The Urban Algae Canopy shows the power of "algaetecture" for Milan Expo 2015 Justine Testado 2014-04-17T19:27:00-04:00 >2018-01-30T06:16:04-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/ld/ld2hb4ishvmadbq0.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>Here's another look at what to expect at the <a href="http://en.expo2015.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Milan Expo</a> in 2015. As part of the Expo's Future Food District project, the Urban Algae Canopy shows the great potential of micro algae organisms for integrative greener, cleaner bio-digital architecture. London-based <a href="http://www.ecologicstudio.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ecoLogicStudio</a> designed the pavilion in collaboration with local architect <a href="http://cesaregriffa.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cesare Griffa</a>.</p><p>Full-scale prototypes of the pavilion are currently being previewed at the INTERNI &lsquo;Feeding New Ideas for the City&rsquo; exhibition at Cortile d&rsquo;Onore, University of Milan, Festa del Perdono happening until April 18.</p><p>Once it's fully built, the canopy will be able to produce oxygen equivalent to 4 hectares of woodland and up to 150kg of biomass per day -- 60% of which are natural vegetal proteins.</p><p>Dig into the project details right below:</p><p><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/514x/wv/wvemft8agvhqy7bd.jpg"></p><p>"The Urban Algae Canopy, based on ecoLogicStudio&rsquo;s six years long research on building integrated bio-digital systems, is presented here with a 1:1 scale prototype of the world&rsquo;s first bio-digital canopy integra...</p>