Self-Powered Biological UV Photodetector Based on Live Freshwater Green Algae

This study introduces a remarkably sensitive self-powered Ultra Violet (UV) photodetector utilizing photosynthetic algae coupled with modified electrodes. The device achieves exceptional sensitivity and stability in photodetection under self-powered operation by leveraging photosynthetic green algae. Notably, the device demonstrates impressive responsivity, and detectivity of 0.44 A W-1, and 4 x1010 Jones respectively for 365 nm of the incident light with the lowest intensity of 530 nW cm-2 at zero bias condition. Additionally, it exhibits rapid rise and decay times, clocking in at 0.15 and 0.16 s, respectively, for optimized performance. This self-powered algal UV photodetector offers high sensitivity, stability, and swift response/recovery rates, presenting a promising solution for current challenges in UV detection applications for sustainable society. The photosynthetic filamentous algae is sandwiched between two electrodes, generating photocurrent when exposed to Ultra Violet (UV) light. Mycosporine like Amino Acids (MAAs) synthesis is an adaptive mechanism that enables algae to survive in high UV environments. During this process, electron transfer occurs, and some charge carriers may exit the system via exo-electrogenesis, being captured by adjacent electrodes, and leading to photo responses under UV exposure. image