video

Jacob Calka

Moss Volt

Jacob Calka and Duncan Jurayj

Duncan: 

A device that harvests the power produced by photosynthesis. Moss releases electrons when it photosynthesizes which are captured by an anode and redirected through a circuit to a cathode. The Moss Volt has zero carbon emissions and uses all low cost, accessible materials. 


Each Moss Volt power cell using a layering system to separate the anode and the cathode, the contents of each power cell are housed in an acrylic box. The layers start with the moss on top. Below that there is wire mesh, soil, paper filter, sand, wire mesh, and sand. The technology behind this project is fairly simple. The moss releases electrons underneath it, the anode (chicken wire) collects the electrons, if the anode and the cathode are connected, the electrons detour through a circuit and power an LED. Multiple cells can be connected in series to increase the voltage significantly. The main design flaw of this project was the housing. Acrylic is more expensive and harder to seal than many other available materials. Acrylic was used mainly for its aesthetic appeal but in the future, a cheaper material would be preferable.

 
Biophotovoltaics (the transfer of the electrons produced by photosynthesis onto an anode and cathode) opens the door into a new clean energy source. Moss is optimal because of its resilience and short roots but all plants release electrons as a product of photosynthesis. This power is abundant and the simplicity of the moss vault displays to the world how to successfully draw from the enormous amount of bio-power. While bio-power devices struggle with efficiency, they would still be a very beneficial addition to the worlds growing clean energy sources. Most importantly, these power cells are very low maintenance, the only upkeep required of this device is watering the moss, which can be done automatically.

Jacob:

A device that derives power from moss photosynthesis. The moss releases electrons as it photosynthesizes and the electrons are captured in an anode and a cathode to create a power source.  This project has zero carbon emissions and a low cost which is extremely important in a new generation of power.

Moss Volt is an accessible, clean power source that derives power by capturing the electrons that are released from moss photosynthesis. The device consists of an acrylic box with wire mesh layered with natural and raw materials as insulators [if this is correct--try to give us an umbrella statement that gives us an overview, before you give the details] Wire mesh is used as the bottom layer in an acrylic box.  Sand, paper filters, soil, more wire mesh, and moss are layered on top of the mesh.  The basic technology behind our project is that the moss releases electrons that are captured by the two wire meshes.  Wires are connected to both sets of wire mesh to create a battery. An LED can be connected to create a circuit and thus power a light.  As more of these cells are connected, the voltage given off is increased.  One design flaws was that we used epoxy at first to bond the acrylic boxes, however, they were not sticking together, so we quickly overcame this obstacle by using plastic weld to combine the acrylic.

It is good for the environment and has zero carbon emission.  Furthermore, all plants photosynthesize so it is an abundant source of energy. Moss Volt helps people see the future of power and how power can be drawn from widely available, unprocessed materials.  Although there is a question regarding the lack efficiency of bio-power, it is worth considering incorporating this power source into our lives because of the immense benefits.  The best part is that the only human interaction with this device is watering the moss.