Australian researchers at the Monash University Biomedicine Discovery Institute in Melbourne have discovered an enzyme that can convert air into electricity, offering a new way of generating clean energy.
Led by Dr. Rhys Grinter, Ph.D. student Ashleigh Kropp, and Professor Chris Greening, the team produced and analyzed the hydrogen-consuming enzyme Huc from a common soil bacterium. The enzyme was found to use low levels of hydrogen in the atmosphere to create an electrical current.
"We've known for some time that bacteria can use the trace hydrogen in the air as a source of energy to help them grow and survive, including in Antarctic soils, volcanic craters, and the deep ocean," Professor Greening said in a press release statement.
"But we didn't know how they did this, until now."
All About Huc
Previous research by the same team showed that many bacteria, including Mycobacterium smegmatis, use atmospheric hydrogen as an energy source in nutrient-poor environments.
However, Huc was the first enzyme discovered that could turn hydrogen gas into an electrical current, creating an opportunity for devices that could generate energy from the air.
Dr. Grinter explains that "Huc is extraordinarily efficient. Unlike all other known enzymes and chemical catalysts, it even consumes hydrogen below atmospheric levels - as little as 0.00005% of the air we breathe."
The researchers utilized several advanced methods to uncover the molecular blueprint of atmospheric hydrogen oxidation.
With the help of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), they determined the atomic structure and electrical pathways of the enzyme, pushing the boundaries to achieve the most resolved enzyme structure reported through this method thus far.
According to the researchers, the cryo-EM technique allowed them to gain new insights into the enzyme's function.
They also employed electrochemistry to demonstrate that the purified enzyme could generate electricity at even minute hydrogen concentrations.
Ms. Kropp, who conducted the laboratory work, found that the purified enzyme could be stored for extended periods. She noted that the enzyme was incredibly stable and could maintain its energy-generating capability even when frozen or heated to 80 degrees Celsius.
She attributed this remarkable stability to the enzyme's role in helping bacteria survive in extreme environments.
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Natural Battery
Huc is being referred to as a "natural battery" since it can produce a steady electrical current from the air or added hydrogen.
The researchers believe that this discovery has significant potential for developing small air-powered devices, providing an alternative to solar-powered devices. The bacteria that produce enzymes like Huc are abundant and can be cultivated in large quantities, ensuring a sustainable source of the enzyme.
The discovery is still in its early stages and further work is needed to determine how Huc could be used in practice. However, the research opens up new possibilities for the development of clean and renewable energy technologies that could significantly reduce carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future.
