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Once considered a major offender in home decor disasters, wallpaper is now poised for a remarkable revival. According to FastCoDesign, researchers from Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge, and Central Saint Martins have developed a groundbreaking wall covering crafted from paper infused with live bacteria. Their aim? To harness these microorganisms to create electrical power.
The process involves printing the paper using a standard inkjet printer, coating it with conductive ink, and then applying cyanobacteria—a light-sensitive organism that converts light energy into electricity. When exposed to light, the ink conducts the energy produced by the bacteria. In tests, a sheet of paper about the size of an iPad successfully powered a small LED light and a digital clock using energy accumulated over 100 hours.
The team at Imperial College, along with their collaborators at the University of Cambridge and Central Saint Martins, envision a wide range of uses for this “living wallpaper.” It could power air quality sensors in homes, monitor patients with conditions such as diabetes in medical settings, or even charge smartphones if sufficient energy is generated. Best of all, the material is both disposable and eco-friendly.
The next phase of the project aims to increase the size of the paper panels to enhance photosynthesis efficiency, all while seamlessly blending into home decor as stylish wall coverings.
