Modeling of microfluidic bio-solar cell using microalgae through multiphysics platform: A greener approach en route for energy production

Due to the growing energy demands and increased concern over environmental deterioration and energy climate catastrophe, bio-energy based mechanisms had gained interest over recent years and had attained acknowledgment as the “greener” energy self-sustainable technologies of the future. A new micro-fluidic bio-solar cell modeling and their integration using COMSOL multi-physics have been proposed in order to convert solar energy into bioelectricity. Synechocystis PCC6803 is used as the microbial source due to its electrical property for generating electrons through an anodic chamber. Using COMSOL multi-physics platform, the microfluidic bio-solar cell was designed with five functioning layers. Each layer is been assigned with the suitable electrical/electrode properties of the polymer and the anodic chamber layer been assigned with the properties of the microalgae. Finally, the microfluidic bio-solar cell was modeled to create interfaces between optical and electrical physics in order to determine their material transport, heat transfer, electrochemical behavior, current density and voltage distribution behavior of the microfluidic bio-solar cell. The open circuit voltage of about 0.42V is been obtained with 80% of absorption capacity. This modeling can be further developed into an extensible bio-solar panel by fabricating it using a microfluidic chamber for further application enhancement, which can replace inorganic solar cells with bio-solar cells for an eco-friendly environment with less production cost.