They manage the first floor of the future that absorbs 30% more light.

BIONIC THIS PLANT SCIENTISTS CREATED BY INTEGRA carbon nanotubes LEAVES, TAKING MORE PERFORMANCE IN THE PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

The aim is that in future plants can serve to monitor environmental changes such as pollution and pesticide use.A team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, WITH, He has combined biological experimentation with nanotechnology in a job that has led to create the first bionic plant them. So that their original structures are supported by nanomaterials and even chemical sensors, that allows you to absorb 30% more sunlight.

La Arabidopsis thaliana, commonly known as arabidopsis and caterpillar, It has been the type of plant chosen by scientists to be modified. Arabidopsis is a cosmopolitan plant that is distributed on all continents, although it is not abundant in Asia and Africa, and scarce in some regions of America.

In hot and temperate climates it is found in meadows, roadsides or brownfields. They have been identified varieties hundreds of differences in the way, growth or flowering time, as adaptation to environmental conditions.

Some of them receive the category of ecotype, genetic and ecological subdivision of the species for environmental adaptation in local conditions.

The investigators, Michael Strange, Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT, and Juan Pablo Giraldo, biologist under postdoc, They had set a goal to increase its performance photosynthesis, an objective they have achieved by integrating carbon nanotubes.

This is a carbon allotropic structures (the same as the diamond or graphite) with a large electrical conductivity and flexibility, inserted in chloroplasts, organelle where photosynthesis occurs.

Work began in the field of solar panels. Professor Strano, who has directed operations, it was suggested that the solar panels may have photosynthetic capacity, with all the benefits that entails.

From there he wondered how they would react chloroplast of a plant if they are isolate. The scientists found that these organelles, causing photosynthesis, only they worked for a few hours. After this time, light and oxygen the damage, something that the plants automatically repaired, but being isolated was not possible.

In order to extend the life of these chloroplasts they were added cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria). This antioxidant compound made protective function, avoiding damage of light and oxygen. Subsequently coated carbon nanotubes DNA was also added negatively charged, for them to integrate properly in chloroplasts. Nanotubes acted as a kind of antenna for sunlight, of plants typically only capture the 10% available.

Conducted the first tests, the researchers decided to apply their success to a living plant. They chose a Arabidopsis thaliana, which by technique introduced out smoothly at the bottom leaves a solution of nanoparticles, It is containing cerium oxide and carbon nanotubes. Entering through the pores (estomas) of the plant, They reached nanotubes chloroplasts and joined to the action of natural vegetable components.

During photosynthesis, pigments, as chlorophyll, absorb light and this agitates electrons chloroplast inner membrane. This electrical energy generated is used to synthesize glucose and fructose, shedding in the oxygen process. The action of carbon nanotubes increases the movement of electrons.

Researchers have worked with carbon nanotubes to become sensors that detect different chemicals, among those explosives and chemical weapons, such as TNT or nerve gas Sarin. When a particle of these compounds is attached to the polymer coating the nanotube, it changes its fluorescence to warn of danger. The idea is that in future plants can serve to monitor pollution, the use of pesticides and other environmental changes. They are even looking at the possibility of incorporating electronic devices plant.

However, there are still issues to be clarified. One is whether the increased agitation of electrons, Nanotubes produced by, It affects the synthesis of glucose and fructose.

Research, mainly funded by the Department of Energy of the United States, It has not been there. It also assessed the possibility of incorporating a plant material that can act as sensors, with ability to detect nitric oxide and alert levels of environmental contamination.