| Spinach Produces Energy |
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 Popeye knew when he needed a boost; all he had to do was reach for that can of spinach. Popeye got his power from spinach.
Now researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have followed his lead. They too found they can generate power from this leafy green vegetable. The current issue of the scientific magazine Nano Letters documents how the researchers isolated photosynthetic proteins from spinach leaves, laid them on a thin gold film, and covered them with an organic material that conducts electricity. When they exposed the “sandwich” to light, it generated a current.
Researchers were trying to imitate nature in converting sunlight into electricity. Although the results are clearly a breakthrough, the initial current produced is short-lived and somewhat inefficient. Even so, these initial results are encouraging. Spinach may be the ingredient needed to make solar cells that can provide inexpensive and efficient electricity for the world. Spinach was chosen because of its intense “greenness” which indicates a high amount photosynthesizing power. The MIT team is also working with peas, olives and other green vegetables. There may be a day in the near future where we will be growing vegetables for power as well as for food.
Courtesy: Medialink
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