A research team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been able to biologically produce highly efficient solar cells, hydrogen fuel, and carbon storage units. The team, led by Dr. Angela Belcher, has trained viruses by manipulating their DNA to create 40 semi-conductor and electronic materials. The viruses, mixed with some safe, non-toxic chemicals, build metal sheets molecule by molecule with very limited environmental impacts. Viruses Aid in Energy Production Dr. Belcher’s lab has utilized these viruses to make multiple components for renewable energy production, including carbon nanotubes that improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. These cells are relatively inexpensive and are named for the dye molecules attached to the semi-conductor surface that harvest the majority of the light. Carbon nanotubes have been tested previously to enhance electric flow in the cells, but the tubes’ construction and arrangement...
