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Mushrooms That Generate Electricity
A device is invented that creates electricity using oyster mushroom waste.
A team from the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), has designed an innovative device that converts sunlight into electricity more efficiently, using waste from oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) as a key component of its structure. This breakthrough, published in the scientific journal Energy & Environmental Science, marks a significant step towards the development of more sustainable and efficient energy technologies aligned with circular economy principles.
The developed device is a photocapacitor, a system that integrates three elements:
A high-efficiency solar cell that captures and converts sunlight into electricity.
A supercapacitor that stores that electricity for later use.
An ecological membrane — the core innovation — made from biopolymers extracted from Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom waste.
This natural membrane functions as a dielectric separator within the supercapacitor, enabling the safe and efficient storage of electric charge. Fungal waste, which is typically discarded in the food industry, is here revalorized as a technological resource, closing the production cycle and embracing zero waste.
The CSIC-developed photocapacitor can reach a voltage of up to 0.92 volts, enough to power small electronic devices such as LED lights, sensors, or digital watches. Notably, this generation and storage occur without the need for external batteries or polluting components.
Furthermore, the device can be integrated into autonomous systems such as sensor networks, wearable technology, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, or even low-power artificial intelligence, greatly expanding its potential in contexts where energy efficiency and sustainability are key.
This project not only provides a technological solution but also champions sustainability — transforming organic waste into high-value materials and reducing the carbon footprint through creative, practical, and replicable solutions that will become true allies of the planet.
