Do you want to hear some good news?A group of researchers has discovered that a potato boiled for eight minutes made a battery that produced ten times the power of a raw one. Haim Rabinowitch, a science professor, and his team found that using small units made up of a quarter-slice of potato set between a copper cathode and a zinc anode connected by a wire can provide a room with LED-powered lighting for as long as forty days. A potato could supply power to personal electronics at around one-tenth the cost of a typical AA battery. This is really amazing.
Here comes the million-dollar question – why potatoes?
Professor Rabinowitch said: “Potatoes were chosen because of their availability all over including the tropics and sub-tropics.” He also said that they are the worlds forth most abundant food crop.
While the potato itself is not the energy source, it helps conduct the electricity by acting as a salt-bridge between the two metals, allowing the electron current to move freely across the wire, creating the electricity. Besides being an abundant crop, the potato was chosen because of its sturdy starch tissue, which allows it to be stored for months without attracting insects. Boiling the potato breaks down the dense flesh so that electrons are able to flow more freely, creating more of an electrical output.
The researchers also found that cutting the potato into four or five pieces made it even more efficient. The potato battery kit includes two metal electrodes and alligator clips and is easy to assemble. Certain parts, such as the zinc cathode, can be inexpensively replaced. Despite the advantages of this new system, food-based energy systems are only able to work as long as they do not cut into the needed food supply and will not compete with the farmers who grow them for market. We really hope you enjoyed this article and don’t forget to share it with your friends and family. Thank You.