Scientists in Australia have isolated an enzyme from soil bacteria that can convert air into electricity, which can be developed into a renewable resource and used in small devices.
The Monash University research, published in the journal Nature and subject to peer review, shows an enzyme called “Huc” can convert small amounts of hydrogen present in the air into an electric current.
Enzymes are a type of protein that can speed up chemical reactions in cells.
The ‘Huc’ is a “natural battery”, scientists say.
Although their research is still in its early stages, their discovery has the potential to become a low-cost power source for small electronics.
“We have shown when isolating [Huc] in the lab, we can put it into an electrical circuit and generate electricity,” said Rhys Griinter, one of the researchers.
Only very small devices can be powered in this way, because the hydrogen level in the air is very low, which is only 0.00005 percent, he explained.
Larger objects will need an external source of hydrogen to add electricity.
“We see very small things like biometric monitors or environmental sensors that require a sustained level of power,” said Dr Griinter.
“But if you give the enzyme more hydrogen, it will produce more power.
“In substances, such as fuel cells, this could potentially generate enough power to power a watch or smartphone.”
“It’s a dream”, says Dr Griinter, to develop a resource that doesn’t need so much to maintain, because it “is essentially passively propelling itself from the air”.
He said his next plan was to increase enzyme production, then work with engineers to design devices powered by the enzymes using air.
Empowering small devices with ‘big reach’
Robert Willows of Macquarie University, who also recently founded a hydrogen energy company, said Monash researchers had made significant discoveries about enzymes for generating electricity from hydrogen.
But he said the idea of generating power out of thin air was “too excited”.
“That’s really a big scope,” said the hydrogen energy expert.
“They proposed it could be used to generate electricity from the air. This could be [ide yang] too broad,” he said.
“There isn’t enough hydrogen in the air to make electricity.”
“For something that has very little current requirements, it might be doable, but for something like a watch… it doesn’t feel like it’s going to work.”
The main significance of the scientific findings, which Professor Willows fully supports, is that scientists managed to generate electricity in the presence of oxygen.
Usually the bacteria that make hydrogen are too sensitive to oxygen.
“This job [memberikan] the idea of how to make this enzyme insensitive to oxygen,” he said.
Technology can revolutionize everyday life
Michael Fuhrer, director of future lower-energy electronics technology at Monash University, who is not involved in the enzyme research, said cheap energy sources for smart devices could transform current technology.
“Think of having a sensor stuck to the side of your milk bottle in the fridge, and telling Alexa, or any other smart device, if your milk has run out and you need to buy some milk while you’re at the store,” says Professor Fuhrer.
“If you can produce it for 5 cents then it might be worth it.
“This idea is sometimes called the internet of things, which is wanting everything to be connected to the internet.”
Professor Fuhrer said the latest research was new to him, but extracting small amounts of energy from the environment was an active and growing area of research.
“This is just the first step and it sounds interesting.”
This article was produced by Erwin Renaldi from ABC News reports
