Researchers from the Kelip-kelip! Center of Excellence for Light Enabling Technologies and the XMUM School of Energy and Chemical Engineering have developed a new method to monitor microalgal photosynthesis in real time, giving scientists a closer look at how these tiny green organisms convert light into energy. 

This research was published in Advanced Functional Materials, with the title "Dynamic Real-Time Monitoring of Microalgal Photosynthesis Using Droplet Triboelectric Nanogenerators". 

The full article can be accessed at: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adfm.202514116

The study introduces a pioneering technique that utilises droplet-based triboelectric nanogenerators (D-TENGs) to precisely track photosynthetic activity in microalgae, drop by drop, charge by charge. The system enables scientists to analyse how microalgae respond dynamically to external stimuli such as changes in light intensity or environmental conditions.

"This technology offers a faster, more effective way to monitor photosynthesis, a fundamental process for life and clean energy," said Wong Chang Jian, master’s student and first author of the study. "It opens new doors for scalable applications in bioenergy and environmental sustainability."

Together with a team of master’s students (Ee Zhi Yin, Woo Qianyuan, James Lukman, Lilian Ong Zi Qi, and Jason Koay Son Chye) and undergraduate students (Tan Yean Yen and Sia Tee Sheng), Wong Chang Jian conducted the research under the guidance of Associate Professors Tan Swee Tiam and Gan Wee Chen, with cross-institutional collaboration from Professor Aw Kean Chin of the University of Auckland.

The new D-TENG system represents a bold departure from conventional photosynthesis measurement tools, which often suffer from latency, limited responsiveness, and high costs. In contrast, this sensor-based platform offers real-time feedback and cost efficiency, making it a prime candidate for large-scale development in climate technology, bioenergy production, and even space-based life support systems.

This work was supported by institutions including Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology Centre (CREST), the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), the State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces at Xiamen University, and the Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund.

The research team is now exploring ways to extend the applications of this technology and welcomes opportunities for further collaboration.

From left: Wong Chang Jian, Dr. Tan Swee Tiam, Dr. Gan Wee Chen (right). In the background is Hu Haoyu, an undergraduate student from the Department of New Energy Science and Engineering, who is busy learning Wong Chang Jian's setup to continue his work.