Project Overview

Between 2020 and 2022, I worked as the project owner of a TÜBİTAK-supported scientific research project focused on sustainable electricity generation through fuel cell technology. The project explored an agriculture-supported and environmentally conscious method of producing electricity by using Sorghum bicolor, an energy crop well suited to Turkey’s climate, as the primary raw material. Our goal was to investigate whether a more locally sourced and accessible approach to fuel cell-based electricity production could contribute to long-term sustainability and energy innovation.

The research centered on extracting plant material from Sorghum bicolor, converting it into bioethanol through fermentation and distillation, and then using that fuel in a Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell (DEFC) system to generate electricity. A major component of the study was also testing agarose gel as an alternative membrane material in place of more difficult-to-source conventional membranes such as Nafion.

My Role

As the project owner, I was responsible for leading the research process from planning to presentation. My work included experimental planning, data collection, technical documentation, coordination, and final presentation delivery. I also contributed to the overall development of the project by supporting the testing process and helping organize the research into a clear, presentable structure. This role gave me the opportunity to combine scientific inquiry with project management and communication responsibilities.

Research Goal

The goal of the project was to investigate a more sustainable and locally relevant method of electricity generation by combining agricultural resources with fuel cell technology. More specifically, the research aimed to:

• explore the energy potential of Sorghum bicolor under Turkey’s climate conditions

• produce bioethanol from plant extract through fermentation and distillation

• generate electricity using a Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell system

• test agarose gel membrane as a more accessible alternative to conventional imported membrane materials

• support environmentally conscious and nationally relevant approaches to energy production

Process and Methodology

The project began with the collection of extract from Sorghum Sudan grass / Sorghum bicolor, which was selected for its suitability to local agricultural conditions and its potential as an energy crop. The plant extract was then processed into bioethanol through fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and later refined through distillation. After this stage, the resulting ethanol mixture was tested in a Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell setup to observe its ability to produce electricity.

In addition to working with the DEFC system, the project also explored the creation of a custom fuel cell design using agarose gel membrane, copper and zinc plates, conductive materials, and a 3D-printed housing. This approach was especially meaningful because it examined whether a more accessible membrane material could be used in place of commonly imported alternatives. The project ultimately demonstrated measurable electricity generation through the designed system.

Key Outcomes

The project successfully demonstrated that electricity could be generated through a fuel cell system using bioethanol derived from Sorghum bicolor. According to the project results, the DEFC kit produced 1.2V / 10mW of electricity, and the prototype agarose gel fuel cell also generated electrical output from the bioethanol-water mixture. The findings suggested that agricultural biomass and alternative membrane materials could play a meaningful role in future sustainable energy exploration.

Additional highlights of the project include:

• collaboration with professors from Mersin University on experimental design and testing

• recognition at the 52nd TÜBİTAK High School Students Research Project Competition in Adana

• receiving the Most Sustainable Project award at the 2019 TAC Science Fair

Impact

This project gave me hands-on experience in a research environment where sustainability, technical experimentation, and long-term problem-solving came together. It allowed me to work on a topic that connected renewable energy, agricultural innovation, and scientific development within a locally meaningful context. More importantly, it showed how interdisciplinary thinking can create practical pathways toward cleaner and more accessible energy systems.

Reflection

What made this project especially valuable was the opportunity to lead a scientific research process that had both environmental and technical significance. It strengthened my ability to manage a long-term project, document complex work clearly, and contribute to a research effort that combined experimentation with real-world sustainability goals. It also expanded my understanding of how innovation can emerge when local resources, scientific curiosity, and applied problem-solving come together.

Link to Presentation (In Turkish)