American scientists invented solar cell chlorophyll
MIT scientists made out an electronic equipment, the use of algae to light energy is converted to electrical energy. They will be spinach chloroplast protein compounds combine with the semiconductor, solid-state electronics made of composite solar cells.
Chloroplast is an integral part of plant cells containing chlorophyll makes leaves green, at the same time to carry out photosynthesis. Scientists said that the photosynthesis have been carried out in nature for billions of years, and this is the first time to use it. Eventually the battery to make solar cells than the existing small lot of light, its efficiency will be much higher.
Scientists had previously tried to photosynthesis, the energy and the traditional electronic technology, but did not succeed, because it needs to work the water environment. Now, scientists from 14 protein sub-units and hundreds of chlorophyll molecules and stability of protein compounds in the system center, using synthetic peptides attached to a small amount of water will be around to form a sealed unit. In the light particle, or the stimulation of optoelectronics, chlorophyll electron-positron pairs generated and transferred to the vicinity of the receiver elements.
The use of electronic transfer of plants to provide energy for photosynthesis, which is a chemical reaction, through the sugar into carbon dioxide to store energy generated at the same time by-products – oxygen. Scientists to develop applications of the same process will be produced in electron transfer to the semiconductor.
However, this system is also far from perfect, but the stability of the work of three weeks, and the battery will only have 12% of light energy into electricity. Scientists believe that, if the number of superimposed layers of chlorophyll cells, does not prevent the sun to enter, you can greatly improve efficiency.
U.S. scientists have developed a microbial fuel cell
Pennsylvania State University, 22 scientists said that they developed a highly efficient microbial fuel cell, so that bacteria can produce a large number of organic wastewater of hydrogen, the hydrogen yield is a traditional fermentation process 4 times.
Professor of Environmental Engineering the school, such as the root of the research results were published in a new “Environmental Science and Engineering” magazine online. The researchers said that the
Microbial fuel cell that can produce not only hydrogen as a clean energy, organic waste water can be purified.
At present, the treatment of organic wastewater fermentation process, the bacteria contained in wastewater can only be incomplete decomposition of organic matter, and its reaction products in addition to a small amount of hydrogen in addition to acetic acid and butyric acid and so on to the stage of bacterial reaction will not be able to it was known as the “fermentation barrier.” Logan and other researchers have found that, in response to the bacteria with 0.25 volts of electricity “stimulus” will be able to overcome the “fermentation barrier” so that the response of bacteria in the end.
They said in the papers, bacterial decomposition of organic matter in the time of electronic transmission to the battery anode, at the same time, proton transfer to the battery cathode, the wire outside the battery connect the two electrodes, the combination of proton and electron can produce hydrogen The response of the final product there are water and carbon dioxide.
The researchers said that the fuel cell can be completely “digest” the organic waste water, including the scope of application of domestic sewage, agricultural waste and industrial wastewater. Consumed in response to voltage, but an ordinary fuel cell voltage electrolysis process about 10%. Generated by reaction of hydrogen or clean energy, has multiple purposes.
Logan stressed that the first proof of fuel cells, obtained from organic waste clean energy there is great potential and is expected to as a “circle of community” to contribute.
Abroad, the development of fuel cells
End of the 20th century the international community has created a wave of fuel cell development. Fuel cell electric vehicles like cars experiment has proven to proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) as a driving force of the electric vehicle performance fully comparable with the internal combustion engine vehicle. When pure hydrogen for fuel, it can achieve true “zero” emissions.
In addition to governments for money to support this study, the world’s major auto groups and oil companies invest huge sums of money to carry out various forms of cooperation to develop the technology, putting in a lot of manpower and material resources to carry out hydrogen fuel cell research. The focus of their competition is in the early 21st century will be fuel cell-powered electric vehicles to market.
United States of America
In the United States, to Department of Energy, headed by, and vigorously promote the development and use of fuel cells, from 1992 to 2001, funding from the U.S. Department of Energy on the 700 million U.S. dollars of fund for fuel cell research and development, most recently the U.S. Department of Energy also announced the allocation of 13.8 million U.S. dollars to help the United States General Motors Corporation, to research and development and its application in polymer fuel cell vehicle applications. The United States, GM, Ford and Chrysler Corporation in the United States Department of Energy’s strong support of the full study of proton exchange membrane fuel cell vehicles, and have implemented their own experimental car. According to preliminary forecasts, to about 2004-2006, fuel cell vehicles to market would be. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, General Motors introduced the use of liquid hydrogen as fuel, “moving on the 1st of hydrogen” fuel cell vehicle as a sports ground car work. By the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Daimler – Chrysler Corporation, the U.S. postal service company co-developed the first joint hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been put into use in the field testing phase, which is powered fuel cell vehicle the first time in the United States National driving the field the road run.
Canada
In research and development of PEMFC technology, the current leader of the Balad company is funded through the Government of Canada and developed in this area is still the highest in the world. Ballard 1993, the company has created the world’s first to a PEMFC-powered city buses, the power of 125 horsepower, 20 passenger. Sold the car to Los Angeles airport, is still running. In February 1995, by the Government of Canada with the United States, California South Coast Air Quality Management Office and other units to develop 4.4 million U.S. dollars joint venture of Ballard PEMFC second car delivery vehicles, the power of 275 horsepower, 75 passenger.
Germany
In March 1993, Mercedes-Benz 34 million U.S. dollars investment in the development of PEMFC vehicle. In March 1995, the European section of the Mercedes-Benz vans a 50kWPEMFC road already running tests. The car can reach 110 kilometers per hour, a fuel supplement may be traveling 250 kilometers, the car can take 6 people without significant congestion. Mercedes-Benz in March 1999 the company demonstrated the Necar-4 type PEMFC electric vehicles, which use liquid hydrogen as fuel, a hydrogen charging up to 450 kilometers mileage. At present, Mercedes-Benz has developed Necar-4 type NEBUS great cars and buses. Steam reforming of methanol is about NECAR5 debut. April 7, 2000 Mercedes-Benz news outlets, the company will produce two to three years in 30 urban bus PEMFC.
BMW recently launched a natural gas-based fuel cell vehicles, driving a car overtaking a smooth maximum of up to 177 kilometers per hour.
Japan
During the period from 1981 to 1990, the Japanese government on the establishment of a “Moonlight project.” At present, a new fuel cell projects – the “New Sunshine Project” in progress.
In October 1996, Toyota Motor Corporation announced that they have successfully developed a new type of PEMFC vehicle. Car power 20kW, the maximum speed of greater than 100 km / h, hydrogen charging a traveling 250 km. At present, the company has produced the jeeps and cars PEMFC.
Since 1980, Japan began to promote the use of fuel cell power generation unit. At present, the world’s largest generator of a fuel cell by Japan’s Toshiba Corporation in November 1991 in manufacturing. Its installed capacity has reached 11MW. And intends to use fuel cells in 2010 production of 2.2 million kWh of electricity.
International Trade and Industry in the province of the Japanese government’s funding and the efforts of the major car companies, the Japanese development of ambitious research and development, display and promotion of fuel cell vehicles in Japan of the plan — hydrogen and fuel cells program display. To participate in the program’s main units are Toyota Motor Corporation, Honda Motor Company, such as 14, from the beginning of the 2001-2002 Motor Company has developed five fuel cell vehicles on the road to real vehicle test run, and has established a number of hydrogen refueling station . Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan’s development objective is that by 2010 fuel cell vehicle to the price of gasoline engine down to the level of general and to government agencies from the beginning of the first fuel cell vehicle popularization.
