The prickly pear cactus, known for thriving in arid regions with minimal water, is hailed as one of the most versatile cacti globally. Its edible fruits, known as prickly pears, along with its stems used in Mexican cuisine for nopal salads or with jalapeños, and its various uses in breeding chinchillas, preventing soil erosion, and producing biofuel, showcase its versatility. Recently, it has even inspired a new technique for more efficient green hydrogen production. A group of scientists from the University of Texas turned to biomimicry, drawing inspiration from nature for technological solutions.
A Revolutionary Approach to Green Hydrogen Production
Green hydrogen, a promising renewable energy source for sustainable mobility in projects such as this one, relies on electrolysis where an electric current separates oxygen and hydrogen molecules in water. For the process to be considered green, the electricity used must come from renewable sources. Although electrolysis is slightly less efficient compared to other methods like photovoltaics or wind power and requires costly catalysts like platinum or iridium, ongoing research aims to enhance its efficiency. The University of Texas proposed a low-cost nickel-based material to improve the process, drawing inspiration from the prickly pear cactus.
One of the researchers noticed the striking stems and berries of the nopal cactus during his daily commute, sparking an idea. These cacti efficiently trap atmospheric water due to their unique shape. This observation led to the development of a 3D nanostructure modeled after cactus stems using nickel. The strategy showed promising results, with hopes of creating a commercially viable system in the near future.
Advocates of the project believe that green hydrogen has the potential to revolutionize energy technologies without contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, benefiting industries like aviation.
The Role of Nopales in Renewable Energy
Apart from their culinary and ecological uses, nopales offer a novel approach to green power generation through the cactus itself acting as an electricity generator. Every plant naturally generates a weak electrical current as part of its metabolic processes. However, the large surface area of nopal stems makes them ideal for this application. Recent studies have discovered that inserting copper and zinc electrodes into nopal stems can yield up to 58.8 mW of power, sufficient to operate LED lights, calculators, or basic IoT sensors.
For those interested in exploring more about the electricity of small things, this article delves into triboelectric nanogenerators that generate energy through vibrations. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of the page for more updates!
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