Biopower generation in a microfluidic bio-solar panel

We developed a scalable and stackable bio-solar panel that integrated significantly improved miniature bio-solar cells in an array. A 3 x 3 bio-solar panel was fabricated by installing nine bio-solar cells with a common microfluidic channel. The bio-solar panel continuously generated electricity from cyanobacterial photosynthetic and respiratory activities under day-night cycles. The open circuit voltages from individual bio-solar cells differed by less than 2% to the cell units in the array. The connection of the nine cells in series generated 5.59 mu W maximum power and 1.28 V operating voltage under a 200 k Omega external resistor, which is the highest-reported numbers of any existing small-scale bio-solar cells. Bio-solar cell performance has improved significantly through miniaturizing innovative device architectures and connecting multiple miniature cells in a panel. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.