Microalgae-Enabled Artificial Plants for Indoor Air Quality Improvement and Electricity Generation

This study introduces a bioengineered artificial plant featuring microalgae within artificial leaves connected via microfluidic channels to a plant stem. The microalgae harness solar energy to transform carbon dioxide (CO2) and water into oxygen (O2), thereby enhancing indoor air quality and releasing electrons during photosynthesis. These electrons provide energy for low-power devices through a biosolar cell with a microalgae-included anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane. Encased in a gas-permeable PDMS membrane, the artificial leaves facilitate gas exchange while microporous hydrogels, enriched with Fe2O3 nanoparticles, sustain the microalgae with water and nutrients, optimize CO2 capture, and facilitate extracellular electron transfer. A single leaf with five biosolar cells notably decreases indoor CO2 (from 416 ppm to 363 ppm) and increases O2 (from 13.2 ppm to 19.1 ppm), generating a peak power density of 46 μW/cm2. Integrating five leaves magnifies the overall CO2 reduction, O2 output, and power generation.