Researchers Explore Harvesting Electricity Directly from Plants

June 4, 2013

Researchers are exploring harvesting electricity directly from plants by modifying the proteins in the thylakoid structures of the plant cells and immobilizing them on carbon nanotubes.

Iliza Sokol

Researchers at the University of Georgia have developed a way to interrupt the process of photosynthesis and capture the electrons the plant produces before it turns them into sugar by separating out the thylakoid structures within the plant cell.

The proteins within the thylakoids are then modified and then immobilized on the backing of a carbon nanotube, which acts as an electric conductor; capturing the electrons and sending them along the wire.

Although the process is still in its infancy, the technology might be suited for remote sensors and other portable electronic devices that require less power to run in the near future.

With plants operating at almost 100% quantum efficiency, the process could greatly benefit the advancement of solar panel technology which only operates at levels between 12 and 17 percent.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Energy and Environmental Science, was written by Ramaraja Ramasamy, assistant professor in the UGA College of Engineering, graduated student Jessica Calkins, and postdoctoral research associate, Yogeswaran Umasankar.

About the Author

Iliza Sokol | Associate Content Producer

Iliza joined the Penton Media group in 2013 after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BS in Advertising and Marketing Communications. Prior to joining the staff, she worked at NYLON Magazine and a ghostwriting firm based in New York.