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Clean energy from the air

19.03.2023

Scientists have discovered that one of the "relatives" of the tuberculosis bacterium is an enzyme that converts hydrogen into an electric current.

The researchers believe that the discovery can be used for a new way to get energy from the air. This is Mycobacterium smegmatis, a bacterium that uses the Huc enzyme to generate energy from hydrogen in the atmosphere, allowing it to survive in extreme nutrient-deficient environments.

The scientists said they had discovered and studied an enzyme that could be used as a source of clean energy to power laptop computers.

"We believe that a power source containing the Huc enzyme could power a range of small portable devices, including biometric sensors, environmental monitoring devices, digital clocks, calculators, and even simple computers," said study lead author Reece. Grinter, a microbiologist at Monash University in Australia.

It is a rapidly growing, non-parasitic bacterial substance that is often used to study the cellular structure of the causative agent of tuberculosis, Mycobacterium smegmati. This bacterium has been known for years to convert hydrogen into electricity. Scientists have found that it is able to survive in harsh weather conditions such as Antarctica, volcanoes and deep oceans, where there are very few other sources of energy.

“If you provide the Huc enzyme with more concentrated hydrogen, it will produce more electrical current. This means that the Huc enzyme can be used in fuel cells to power more sophisticated devices such as smartwatches or smartphones, more sophisticated laptop computers, and perhaps even cars.” "Grinter explained.

The scientists found a charged structure in the center of the Huc enzyme containing nickel and iron ions. When a hydrogen molecule enters the active zone, protons and electrons find themselves in a chain between nickel and iron atoms. The enzyme then sends the electrons to "conductive pathways" that conduct electrical current.

Experiments have confirmed that Huc is able to persist for a long time and can absorb hydrogen in a negligible concentration, which is 0,00001% of the volume of air inhaled by a person. The scientists believe that these properties, combined with the bacteria's omnipresence, could be ideal candidates for a clean energy source for organic batteries.

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