In an event to find another real alternative source for electricity, researchers from the University of Washington have successfully powered tiny electrical circuits with energy harnessed from big-leaf maples.
MIT students have previously tested plants to generate 200mV power by placing electrodes in the plant and another in the soil in the neighborhood; in an extension to it, University of Washington researchers have used custom boost converter. The convertor works for input voltages of 20mV and produces an output of about 1.1V, which is enough to run low-power sensors.
The idea to harness energy from trees may not be the ultimate solution for the power crunch, but it sure could be a low-power alternative for juicing up circuits for application requiring such circuitry and sensory support for detection and monitoring.
Via: EcoFriend
