TNPSC Thervupettagam

Soil-Powered Fuel Cell

January 26 , 2024 175 days 315 0
  • Scientists of Northwestern University in USA have developed a new fuel cell they claim can harvest energy from microbes living in the soil.
  • The fuel is around the size of a book and can potentially be used to fuel underground sensors used in green infrastructure and precision agriculture.
  • It could become a sustainable, renewable alternative to batteries that use toxic and flammable chemicals.
  • Soil-based microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were first created in 1911 and they operate not all that differently from a battery.
  • They have an anode, a cathode and electrolyte.
  • But instead of using chemicals to generate electricity, they harvest electricity from bacteria that naturally give out electrons to nearby conductors.
  • These electrons from anode to cathode to create an electric circuit.

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