Aloe Vera Lamp
Aloe Vera Lamp
The Aloe Vera lamp is a lamp powered by using the Aloe barbadensis miller, commonly known as the Aloe Vera. So, this lamp is powered using completely clean and renewable energy! This lamp can be used to replace normal lamps in some circumstances. Interested? Find out more!
Tools and Materials
How we made this lamp
1.
Copper and zinc sheets are cut up to pairs of 2.5 x 1.5 cm. They are plugged on the leaves. Each leaf contained 1 pair of electrodes.
2.
The electrodes between the leaves are connected using alligator tongs in parallel as illustrated below. Alligator clips can be replaced with regular cables and connected using a diode to each wire.
3.
The number of volts and amperes produced is calculated using a multimeter. If the amperes and volts are not sufficient you can increase the number of electrodes that are plugged into the leaves. Each pair of electrodes increases the voltage by an average of 0.5 volts.
4.
Wires are connected from the aloe vera to the lamp. There is also an alternative way of connecting Aloe Vera to an accumulator first to store the electricity generated instead of using it straight away. However, for this particular lamp, we decided to do the former method.
Results
We strived to get the highest voltage and amperes by changing the amount of independent variables in our experiment, namely copper and zinc electrodes as well as the amount of Aloe Vera plants. After experimenting, we received a maximum voltage of 4.23 V using 10 pairs of electrodes and 2 Aloe Vera plants.
The power obtained was enough to light up a 5mm LED lightbulb.
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The results are as follows:
How it works
Photosynthesis is the process that plants use to synthesize carbohydrate molecules from carbon dioxide and water through the use of light energy, usually from the sun. This process will cause electron and ion transport within the plant (Picture 1), which creates a potential difference between the leaves and roots under light exposure. This phenomenon is triggered in plants by periodic changes in light and darkness from the light source.
Picture 1. Ionic transfer within plants due to photosynthesis
By implanting electrodes into the aloe vera plant, an electrochemical process occurs in which chemical energy converts into electrical energy through an oxidation reduction reaction. The oxidation process that occurs at the anode electrode and the reduction process that occurs at the cathode electrode causes electrons to flow from the anode to the cathode, thus generating electricity. With this method, the organic matter that makes up plants (plant flesh) functions as an electrolyte solution between the two electrodes that holds the electrical circuit together (Picture 2)
Picture 2. Electrolysis that occurs between electrodes and Aloe Vera leaf