Breakthrough: Power generation from ambient humidity using protein nanowires

[PhysicsProf]

This appears to be a genuine breakthrough:  Power generation from ambient humidity using protein nanowires

As reported today in Nature, the laboratories of electrical engineer Jun Yao and microbiologist Derek Lovley at UMass Amherst have created a device they call an "Air-gen." or air-powered generator, with electrically conductive protein nanowires produced by the microbe Geobacter. The Air-gen connects electrodes to the protein nanowires in such a way that electrical current is generated from the water vapor naturally present in the atmosphere.

"We are literally making electricity out of thin air," says Yao. "The Air-gen generates clean energy 24/7." Lovely, who has advanced sustainable biology-based electronic materials over three decades, adds, "It's the most amazing and exciting application of protein nanowires yet."

The new technology developed in Yao's lab is non-polluting, renewable and low-cost. It can generate power even in areas with extremely low humidity such as the Sahara Desert. It has significant advantages over other forms of renewable energy including solar and wind, Lovley says, because unlike these other renewable energy sources, the Air-gen does not require sunlight or wind, and "it even works indoors."

The Air-gen device requires only a thin film of protein nanowires less than 10 microns thick, the researchers explain. The bottom of the film rests on an electrode, while a smaller electrode that covers only part of the nanowire film sits on top. The film adsorbs water vapor from the atmosphere. A combination of the electrical conductivity and surface chemistry of the protein nanowires, coupled with the fine pores between the nanowires within the film, establishes the conditions that generate an electrical current between the two electrodes.

The researchers say that the current generation of Air-gen devices are able to power small electronics, and they expect to bring the invention to commercial scale soon. Next steps they plan include developing a small Air-gen "patch" that can power electronic wearables such as health and fitness monitors and smart watches, which would eliminate the requirement for traditional batteries. They also hope to develop Air-gens to apply to cell phones to eliminate periodic charging.



Yao says, "The ultimate goal is to make large-scale systems. For example, the technology might be incorporated into wall paint that could help power your home. Or, we may develop stand-alone air-powered generators that supply electricity off the grid. Once we get to an industrial scale for wire production, I fully expect that we can make large systems that will make a major contribution to sustainable energy production."

Continuing to advance the practical biological capabilities of Geobacter, Lovley's lab recently developed a new microbial strain to more rapidly and inexpensively mass produce protein nanowires. "We turned E. coli into a protein nanowire factory," he says. "With this new scalable process, protein nanowire supply will no longer be a bottleneck to developing these applications."

The Air-gen discovery reflects an unusual interdisciplinary collaboration, they say. Lovley discovered the Geobacter microbe in the mud of the Potomac River more than 30 years ago. His lab later discovered its ability to produce electrically conductive protein nanowires. Before coming to UMass Amherst, Yao had worked for years at Harvard University, where he engineered electronic devices with silicon nanowires. They joined forces to see if useful electronic devices could be made with the protein nanowires harvested from Geobacter.

Xiaomeng Liu, a Ph.D. student in Yao's lab, was developing sensor devices when he noticed something unexpected. He recalls, "I saw that when the nanowires were contacted with electrodes in a specific way the devices generated a current. I found that that exposure to atmospheric humidity was essential and that protein nanowires adsorbed water, producing a voltage gradient across the device."

In addition to the Air-gen, Yao's laboratory has developed several other applications with the protein nanowires. "This is just the beginning of new era of protein-based electronic devices" said Yao.


More information: Power generation from ambient humidity using protein nanowires, Nature (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2010-9 , https://nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2010-9

[gotoluc]

They are using protein to tap into the infinite life force energy.
This life force energy has been known as Prana by east Indian's for longer then recorded time. It is called Chi in Asian countries.
This is the electrical grid of all living things and may be just the beginning, much more will be discovered.
Soon we will be able to organize growth to desired shape and electrical circuitry at the same time.
I predicted some years back that in the future a computer may be grown.
If this keeps up the next 30 years may be interesting.

Regards
Luc

[PhysicsProf]

They are using protein to tap into the infinite life force energy.
This life force energy has been known as Prana by east Indian's for longer then recorded time. It is called Chi in Asian countries.
This is the electrical grid of all living things and may be just the beginning, much more will be discovered.
Soon we will be able to organize growth to desired shape and electrical circuitry at the same time.
I predicted some years back that in the future a computer may be grown.
If this keeps up the next 30 years may be interesting.

Regards
Luc

   A very interesting perspective!  possibly true also.  Thanks for this insight.
My question:  is there anything a home-researcher can do along the lines of this - "The Air-gen connects electrodes to the protein nanowires in such a way that electrical current is generated from the water vapor naturally present in the atmosphere."

Protein nanowires?  where to even begin?

[Paul-R]

Protein nanowires?  where to even begin?

I fear this  may be  one  of  those projects which assumes considerable quantities of Unobtainium

[lost_bro]

They are using protein to tap into the infinite life force energy.
This life force energy has been known as Prana by east Indian's for longer then recorded time. It is called Chi in Asian countries.
This is the electrical grid of all living things and may be just the beginning, much more will be discovered.
Soon we will be able to organize growth to desired shape and electrical circuitry at the same time.
I predicted some years back that in the future a computer may be grown.
If this keeps up the next 30 years may be interesting.

Regards
Luc

Good Day Gotoluc

So right you are.  Attached for your reading pleasure;  'The Tao of Physics'.
This publication from 1975 connects the dots between Subatomic physics and Eastern Metaphysics.
Worth the read for anyone looking for insights into the bigger picture.

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bd99/79a7203a618b3d85b251abf6e4af080728b6.pdf

take care, peace
lost_bro

p.s.  tried to attached the entire pdf book, but could not upload it
       and sorry to derailing the thread.... if you want I can move it to another.

[Allcanadian]

We are in effect biological machines able to transform energy from the environment to perform work. We also use less intelligent forms of life, animals to perform work for us. Thus it should have been obvious that following this line of reasoning we would develop more advanced biological machines and computors.

What were talking about is simply a machine which mimics living things or processes which have the ability to extract and transform environmental energy within themselves. Not a big deal, we and all living things do it every day. What is amazing is that it took everyone this long to see it for what it is.