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The energy is not coming from the light or the algae, despite the fact that they tried to test it by blocking the light and trying it without algae. The energy
by ars 3y ago
The energy is not coming from the light or the algae, despite the fact that they tried to test it by blocking the light and trying it without algae.
The energy is coming from oxidizing the aluminum, and the algae are oxidizing it. Specifically the algae is making oxygen, which is reacting with the aluminum.
I would like to see them do with experiment using gold next time (i.e. non reactive metal) and I bet there will be no electricity.
- userbinator 3y agoIn other words it's a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium%E2%80%93air_battery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium%E2%80%93air_battery ?
- littlestymaar 3y agoAluminium forms a thin coating of passive aluminium oxyde when oxydizing, so I'd be surprised if it could have lasted for a year this way. Also, that wouldn't explain why it continues to produce power after light goes dark.
- HPsquared 3y agoPassive layer depends on the chemistry. Power production after dark would be residual oxygen.
- ginko 3y agoSo it's barely a step above potato batteries where all the potatoes provide is the electrolyte.