Powering a Microprocessor by Photosynthesis
Open accessAbstract
A photosynthesis-driven biophotovoltaic system with an Al-anode powered a microprocessor widely used in IoT applications stably for over six months.
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An AA battery-sized MA-MFC constructed from readily available, durable, affordable, and mostly recyclable materials successfully powered the continuous operation of an Arm Cortex M0+ processor for more than six months in a domestic environment, without additional energy storage, artificial lighting, or organic feeding.
“As a reference, an AA battery-sized MA-MFC constructed from readily available, durable, affordable, and mostly recyclable materials successfully powered the continuous operation of an Arm Cortex M0+ processor for more than six months in a domestic environment, without the need for additional energy storage, artificial lighting, or organic feeding [180].”
From Emerging Applications of Chlorella sp. and Spirulina (Arthrospira) sp. (2023) · cites this paper as [180]
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn a controlled laboratory environment, the prototyped MA-MFC showed a peak power density of 42 mW m−2.
“In a controlled laboratory environment, the prototyped MA-MFC showed a peak power density of 42 mW m−2.”
From Emerging Applications of Chlorella sp. and Spirulina (Arthrospira) sp. (2023) · cites this paper as [180]
In “Developing a compact Al-BPV for powering the Arm Cortex-M0+,” the paper reports a peak of 4.2 μW cm−2 (42 mW m−2) under controlled laboratory conditions, but for its compact Al-BPV. In “Light-dependent power production from a prototype Al-BPV,” the separately named prototype peaks at 0.37 μW cm−2 under light. The paper does not identify the 42 mW m−2 device as an MA-MFC. (LLM, conf=0.91)
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Emerging Applications of Chlorella sp. and Spirulina (Arthrospira) sp.
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- Authors
- Bombelli, P., Savanth, A., Scarampi, A., Rowden, S. J. L., Green, D. H., Erbe, A., Årstøl, E., Jevremovic, I., Hohmann-Marriott, M. F., Trasatti, S. P., Ozer, E., & Howe, C. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Milan (IT)
- ARM (United Kingdom) (GB)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Scottish Association For Marine Science (GB)
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO)
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Arm Ltd, 110 Fulbourn Rd, Cambridge, CB1 9NJ, UK
- Corresponding author
- Howe, C. J.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Energy & Environmental Science
- Publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
- Published
- 2022
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 2529-2536
- ISSN
- 1754-5692 (ISSN-L)
- 1754-5706
- OpenAlex
- W4285263038
- Cited by
- 78
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 16
- FWCI
- 5.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- Energy & Environmental Science (publishedVersion)
- Apollo (University of Cambridge) (submittedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
- Apollo
- Funders
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/M011194/1)
- Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca
- Natural Environment Research Council (NE/R017050/1)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
- Keywords
- photosynthesis, biophotovoltaics, microprocessor power supply, aluminum anode, Internet of Things, self-powered devices, bioenergy harvesting
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