| Abstract |
This project explored whether moss can make electricity through a process called biophotovoltaics (BPV), where plants use sunlight to produce small electrical currents. We wanted to see if different moss types and water sources would change how much electricity was made. Four kinds of moss were used: Delicate Fern Moss, Red-Stemmed Feather Moss, Mountain Fern Moss, and Pincushion Moss. To collect electricity, copper and zinc electrodes were put into the moss and connected to a multimeter to measure voltage. We also tested four water sources—tap water, river water, rainwater, and sea water—to see how they affected the results.
Our tests showed that all moss types made small voltages between 0.2 and 0.4 volts, but the current was too weak to light an LED. River water gave the best results, likely because it has natural minerals that help moss grow and carry electricity better. Tap water didn’t work as well, probably because of chemicals like chlorine, while rainwater had too few dissolved ions. Sea water gave unstable readings because its high salt and impurities can interfere with the reactions inside the system.
We found that while moss can make electricity, the power levels are too low for practical use right now. However, if multiple moss “cells” were connected together, it could make more voltage. This experiment shows that moss has potential as a clean, sustainable energy source and could play a role in greener technology in the future.
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