ELECTRIC GENERATION USING ELECTRIC ORGANS OF ELECTRIC RAYS BY CHEMICAL STIMULATION

An electric ray is a kind of electric fish generating strong pulse currency using electric organs which are serially integrated electrocytes converting chemical energy (ATP) into electric energy using ion pumps and ion channels on the cells. We here present a power generation method using this electric organ by chemical stimuli and injecting systems. Firstly, we have confirmed pulse generation by physical stimuli to an electric ray itself. Secondly, we investigated the electrical response of electric organs against chemical injection, and demonstrated power generation by this method. Finally, we have constructed a power generation device based on this result using fluidic control systems, and achieved about 400 mV voltage generation. This is extremely higher than single cell level generation of neurons or muscle cells against chemical stimuli (about mu V order). This is because of the use of natural multi-layered organ for generation. The most important advantage of this system is just using biological energy and easy to be controlled.