--- title: IATA team uses waste mushrooms for a device that transforms light into electricity more efficiently description: The Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA) demonstrates that rice bran can become a sustainable and cost-effective source for producing industrial enzymes. Fermentation with fungi transforms this by-product into enzyme cocktails that can be used to produce biofuels, lactose-free products or bio-pesticides, among other applications. The use of materials obtained from mushroom remains improves the sustainability of manufacturing and the performance of the system, able to run for 72 hours only with ambient light image: https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/iata%20residuos%20setas%20luz.jpg --- [Contact](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto) ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/location.svg)[How to get to the Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto) [Intranet](https://portalcliente.pcuv.es/) - [Castellano](https://news.pcuv.es/) - [Valencià](https://news.pcuv.es/va/) - [English](https://news.pcuv.es/en/) ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/search.svg) [![PCUV](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/logo_pcuv.svg)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/) - [Who we are](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos) - [Science Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos/parc-cientific) - [FPCUV](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos/fpcuv) - [Transparency Portal](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos/portal-de-transparencia-front) - [Services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios) - [General Services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/servicios-generales) - [Infrastructures and spaces](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/infraestructura-y-espacios) - [Companies](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/apoyo-a-empresas-y-startup) - [Networking](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/networking) - [Preferential access](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/acceso-preferente) - [Training](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/formacion) - [Networks](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/redes) - [Establishing in the Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/instalarse-en-el-parc) - [Choose the Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/instalarse-en-el-parc/elige-el-parc) - [The companies in the Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas) - [The companies in the Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas) - [Company directory and search engine](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/listado-empresas) - [Biotechnology](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/biotecnologia) - [Information technology (ICT)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/tic) - [Energy and the Environment](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/energia-y-medio-ambiente) - [Advanced Services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/servicios-avanzados) - [Industry, Materials and Nanotechnology](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/industrial-materiales-nanotecnologia) - [Research institutes](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion) - [Research Institutes](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion) - [Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (UV)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/icbibe) - [Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technologies (CSIC)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/iata) - [Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (UV + CSIC)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/i2sysbio) - [Institute for Molecular Science (UV)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/icmol) - [Institute of Materials Science (UV)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/icmuv) - [Institute of Corpuscular Physics (UV + CSIC)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/ific) - [Institute of Robotics and Information and Communication Technologies (UV)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/irtic) - [Astronomical Observatory of the University of Valencia](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/oauv) - [News](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad) - [News](https://news.pcuv.es/en/) - [Diary](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad/eventos) - [FPCUV Projects](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad/Proyectos-FPCUV) - [Publications](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad/publicaciones) - [Ebooks](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad/ebooks) - [Podcast](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad/podcast) - [Intranet](https://www.pcuv.es/en/intranet) - [Who we are](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos) - [Science Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos/parc-cientific) - [FPCUV](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos/fpcuv) - [Transparency Portal](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos/portal-de-transparencia-front) - [Services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios) - [General Services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/servicios-generales) - [Infrastructures and spaces](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/infraestructura-y-espacios) - [Companies](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/apoyo-a-empresas-y-startup) - [Networking](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/networking) - [Preferential access](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/acceso-preferente) - [Training](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/formacion) - [Networks](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/redes) - [Establishing in the Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/instalarse-en-el-parc) - [Choose the Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/instalarse-en-el-parc/elige-el-parc) - [Companies](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas) - [The companies in the Park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas) - [Company directory and search engine](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/listado-empresas) - [Biotechnology](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/biotecnologia) - [Information technology (ICT)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/tic) - [Energy and the Environment](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/energia-y-medio-ambiente) - [Advanced Services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/servicios-avanzados) - [Industry, Materials and Nanotechnology](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas/empresas/industrial-materiales-nanotecnologia) - [Research institutes](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion) - [Research Institutes](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion) - [Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (UV)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/icbibe) - [Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technologies (CSIC)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/iata) - [Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (UV + CSIC)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/i2sysbio) - [Institute for Molecular Science (UV)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/icmol) - [Institute of Materials Science (UV)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/icmuv) - [Institute of Corpuscular Physics (UV + CSIC)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/ific) - [Institute of Robotics and Information and Communication Technologies (UV)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/irtic) - [Astronomical Observatory of the University of Valencia](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion/institutos-de-investigacion/oauv) - [News](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad) - [News](https://news.pcuv.es/en/) - [Diary](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad/eventos) - [FPCUV Projects](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad/Proyectos-FPCUV) - [Publications](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad/publicaciones) - [Ebooks](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad/ebooks) - [Podcast](https://www.pcuv.es/en/actualidad/podcast) - [Contact](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto) - [Intranet](https://portalcliente.pcuv.es/) 1. [Home](https://www.pcuv.es/en/home) 2. [News and Calendar](https://news.pcuv.es/) 3. News # IATA team uses waste mushrooms for a device that transforms light into electricity more efficiently 05/06/2025 Share this news: - ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/Blog/images/share.svg) - ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/Blog/images/printer.svg) ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/iata%20residuos%20setas%20luz.jpg) ## The Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA) demonstrates that rice bran can become a sustainable and cost-effective source for producing industrial enzymes. Fermentation with fungi transforms this by-product into enzyme cocktails that can be used to produce biofuels, lactose-free products or bio-pesticides, among other applications. The use of materials obtained from mushroom remains improves the sustainability of manufacturing and the performance of the system, able to run for 72 hours only with ambient light The [Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA)](https://www.pcuv.es/es/institutos-de-investigacion/iata), which is located in the scientific-academic area of the Science Park of the University of Valencia (PCUV) and Severo Ochoa centre of excellence under the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), is part of an international team that has developed the first fully integrated high-efficiency photocondenser capable of directly powering AI and Internet of Things devices without the need for batteries. One of the membranes in this device is made up of biopolymers developed by the IATA-CSIC research team from mushroom residues, using methods that are easily scalable to industrial scale. Progress published in the journal Energy & Environmental Science. A photocondenser is a device that captures energy from sunlight and stores it directly, combining the functions of a solar cell and a battery in one system. The model developed in this research, a three-terminal device, combines the conversion of light into electricity with energy storage in one system. To do this, it integrates a high efficiency solar cell, a molecularly designed supercondenser and an ecological membrane made by IATA from mushroom waste that acts as a separator in the storage system. Thanks to this combination, the photocondenser reaches up to 0.92 volts, enough to power LED lights, digital clocks or small sensors, and a charging efficiency of 18% under standard interior lighting, 3.5 times the performance of commercial silicon modules under these conditions. The system has proven capable of powering nodes of the so-called 'Internet of Things', small devices connected to each other and to the Internet to exchange data and perform specific tasks, all without the need for batteries. > The system has proven capable of powering nodes of the so-called 'Internet of Things', small devices connected to each other and to the internet to exchange data and perform specific tasks, all without the need for batteries This system keeps running for 72 hours only with ambient light, and performs high energy-efficient AI tasks. "This result brings us closer to the development of truly sustainable and autonomous smart devices," says Marina Freitag, a researcher at the University of Newcastle (UK) who leads the work. ## New applications for biopolymers The BIOFUN team of the IATA-CSIC packaging research group has manufactured one of the device’s membranes by using biobased films made from commercial mushroom residues. "The biodegradable films we have produced have been fundamental for the excellent performance of this device," says María José Fabra, a researcher at IATA-CSIC who has participated in the study. Photocapacitors usually use polymer (plastic) or ceramic membranes. The use of membranes made from mushroom waste opens up new possibilities for more sustainable device production. "These films have clear advantages over traditional membranes in three key respects: sustainability, adaptability and superior performance. In fact, the photocondenser shows a significant improvement in its performance by using these biodegradable membranes instead of conventional materials," explains Fabra. > "Although our research is mainly focused on food applications, collaboration with other disciplines and areas of knowledge allows us to advance towards innovative developments with multiple applications, such as these new photocapacitors", Amparo López, IATA Director and co-author of the article The IATA-CSIC team regularly investigates the use of agro-industrial waste for new ingredients and materials. "Although our research is mainly focused on food applications, collaboration with other disciplines and areas of knowledge allows us to advance innovative developments with multiple applications, such as these new photocapacitors", concludes Amparo López, IATA director and co-author of the article. The result of this work is the fruit of an international and multidisciplinary collaboration between various partners. In addition to IATA-CSIC, the University of Newcastle (UK), which coordinates innovation in the device; the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the University of Naples (Italy), leading the integration of advanced supercapacitor technology and system theoretical development respectively; Munich Technical University (Germany), responsible for computing the device; and Lausanne Federal Polytechnic (Switzerland), responsible for the advanced characterisation of the device. *Source: CSIC Delegation Comunitat Valenciana*   Reference -- Flores-Diaz, N., De Rossi, F., et al. (2025). ***Unlocking high-performance photocapacitors for edge computing in low-light environments***. *Energy & Environmental Science*. [https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EE01052G](https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EE01052G)     --     ### Recent Posts     [![PCUV](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/logo.svg)](https://www.pcuv.es/en/home) ## Subscribe to our **newsletter** - Get to know us - [Parc Científic](https://www.pcuv.es/en/conocenos) - [FPCUV](https://www.pcuv.es/en/fpcuv/) - [Transparency Portal](https://www.pcuv.es/en/portal-de-transparencia) - --- Services - [Infrastructures and spaces](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/espacios-para-empresas) - [Support for companies and startups](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/apoyo-a-emprededor-empresas) - [Networking](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/networking-empresas/) - [UV services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/servicios-uv) - [Training](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/formacion/) - [Networks](https://www.pcuv.es/en/servicios/redes/) - Establishing in the park - [Establishing in the park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/instalarse-en-el-parc/) - --- Companies - [The park's companies](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas) - [Company directory and search engine](https://www.pcuv.es/en/directorio-buscador-empresas) - Sectors - [Biotechnology, agrifood, medicine and health](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-biotecnologia-medicina-salud) - [Information and communication technologies ICT](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-tecnologias-informacion-comunicacion-tic) - [Energy and environment](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-energia-y-medio-ambiente) - [Advanced services](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-servicios-avanzados) - [Industry, materials and nanotechnology](https://www.pcuv.es/en/empresas-industrial-materiales-nanotecnologia) - [Research Institutes](https://www.pcuv.es/en/institutos-de-investigacion) - PCUV News - [News](https://news.pcuv.es/en/) - [Calendar](https://www.pcuv.es/en/agenda-eventos/) - [Park projects](https://www.pcuv.es/en/proyectos-del-parc/) - [Publications](https://www.pcuv.es/en/publicaciones/) - [Ebooks](https://www.pcuv.es/en/ebooks/) - [Podcasts](https://www.pcuv.es/en/podcasts/) - ![](https://news.pcuv.es/hubfs/icons/location-f.svg)[How to get to the park](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto#map) - --- [Contact](https://www.pcuv.es/en/contacto) - --- [Internal information channel](https://pcuv.es/en/canal-interno-de-informacion) - - - - - - --- ©2026 Parc Científic de la Universitat de València - [Cookies policy](https://www.pcuv.es/en/politica-cookies) - [Privacy policy](https://www.pcuv.es/en/politica-privacidad) - [Legal notice](https://www.pcuv.es/en/aviso-legal-web)