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J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 2, 033103 (2010); doi:10.1063/1.3427222 (11 page)

Zn/Cu-vegetative batteries, bioelectrical characterizations, and primary cost analyses

Alex Golberg1, Haim D. Rabinowitch1,2, and Boris Rubinsky1,3

1Center for Bioengineering in the Service of Humanity and Society, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel Map This map
2Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Science and Genetics in Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 91904 IL, Israel Map This map
3Department of Mechanical Engineering and Graduate Program in Biophysics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA Map This map

(Received 2 December 2009; accepted 16 April 2010; published online 7 June 2010)

Developing a cheap, sustainable, and simple to use low power electrical energy source will substantially improve the life quality of 1.6×109 people, comprising 32% of the developing non-Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development populations currently lacking access to electrical infrastructure ( World Energy Outlook, 2006, http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/2006.asp, 10 September 2009 ). Such a source will provide important needs as lighting, telecommunication, and information transfer. Our previous studies on Zn/Cu electrolysis in animal tissues revealed a new fundamental bioelectrical property: the galvanic apparent internal impedance (GAII) [ A. Golberg, H. D. Rabinowitch, and B. Rubinsky, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 389, 168 (2009) ], with potential use for tissue typing. We now report on new fundamental studies on GAII in vegetative matter and on a simple way for significant performance improvement of Zn/Cu-vegetative battery. We show that boiled or irreversible electroporated potato tissues with disrupted cell membranes generate electric power up to tenfold higher than equal galvanic cell made of untreated potato. The study brought about basic engineering data that make possible a systematic design of a Zn/Cu-potato electrolytic battery. The ability to produce and utilize low power electricity was demonstrated by the construction of a light-emitting diode based system powered by potato cells. Primary cost analyses showed that treated Zn/Cu-potato battery generates portable energy at ∼ 9 USD/kW h, which is 50-fold cheaper than the currently available 1.5 V AA alkaline cell (retail) or D cells ( ∼ 49–84 USD/kW h). Admittedly very simple, the treated potato or similarly treated other plant tissues could provide an immediate, environmental friendly, and inexpensive solution to many of the low power energy needs in areas of the world lacking access to electrical infrastructure.

© 2010 American Institute of Physics

KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords

bioelectric phenomena, cells (electric), copper, electrolysis, zinc

PACS

ARTICLE DATA

Permalink
http://link.aip.org/link/JRSEBH/v2/i3/p033103/s1

PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:

1941-7012 (online)

Publisher:

$abstract.society.value is a Member of CrossRef American Institute of Physics

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Figures (5) Tables (1)

Figures (click on thumbnails to view enlargements)

FIG. 1
Potato battery basic composition and performance. Potato Zn/Cu galvanic cell battery basic structure. The battery (Kcell = 15.5 cm) was used to light two white LEDs.
FIG. 1 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint
FIG. 2
Zn/Cu battery electrical discharge characteristics. (a) Battery (Kcell = 5.5 cm) characteristic performance during 20 h discharge through a constant 300 Ω external resistance. (b) The effect of cell constant Kcell on the performance of an untreated potato battery. (c) Effect of physical disruption of potato tissues on the battery voltage as a function of external resistance between the electrodes. (Kcell = 5.5 cm). (d) Effect of physical disruption treatments of potato tuber on the relation between battery output voltage and current density performance (Kcell = 5.5 cm). Error bars—one standard deviation, n = 5.
FIG. 2 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint
FIG. 3
Characterization of potato GAII and AC impedance. (a) A typical plot of 1/Id as a function of external resistance for an untreated potato. (b) GAII of the salt bridge calculated after 3 h of discharge. [(c) and (d)] The real impedance of the potato. They represent two parts of a standard Bode plot of electrical impedance (Kcell = 5.5 cm). Error bars—one standard deviation, n = 5.
FIG. 3 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint
FIG. 4
Energy production by a potato battery. (a) Battery power generation per cm2 working electrode as a function of the battery voltage. (b) Battery capacity throughout 20 h discharge over constant external resistance (300 Ω). (c) Total energy produced by a potato battery during the 20 h (battery discharge occurred over constant external resistance of 300 Ω (Kcell = 5.5 cm). Error bars—one standard deviation n = 5.
FIG. 4 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint
FIG. 5
Cost analyses comparison between various portable battery sources.
FIG. 5 View Enlargement | Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint

Tables

Table I. Potato content analyses by ion chromatography and atomic emission spectroscopy.

View Table


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