Australian scientists have discovered a new potential that could power small devices from air in the future. Researchers at Monash University in Melbourne have extracted a unique enzyme from a common soil bacterium. This enzyme generates electricity using the very small amount of hydrogen present in air.
This bacterium is called Mycobacterium smegmatis. The enzyme extracted from it is called Huc. The amount of hydrogen in air is very low, approximately 0.00005%. Yet, this enzyme captures this tiny amount of hydrogen and generates an electric current. Most importantly, it continues to function even in the presence of oxygen, whereas most such enzymes are damaged by oxygen.
Researchers have found that this enzyme is very robust. Even after freezing or heating to 80 degrees Celsius, it does not lose its ability to generate electricity. This property sets it apart from other enzymes.
Scientists say that currently, large amounts of electricity cannot be generated from it. But it could prove useful for powering small devices like sensors, watches, health monitors, or small electronic circuits. Because it continuously draws energy from the air, it eliminates the need for frequent battery replacement.
This discovery was published in the prestigious journal Nature in 2023. The research team included Dr. Rhys Grinter, Ashley Cropp, and Professor Chris Greening. They explained that many bacteria already extract energy from hydrogen in the air, but now for the first time, they understand how they do so.
This research is still in its early stages. In the future, scientists will explore ways to better utilize this enzyme to create smaller and longer-lasting devices. If successful, many devices in the future will be powered by air.
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