Algae
_Photosynthetic Ceramics
This study investigates the development of clay- and ceramic-based living biocomposites designed to operate under low-moisture conditions. The composites support viable, metabolically active photosynthetic microorganisms (microalgae). Laboratory testing protocols are established to identify the environmental thresholds that constrain biological activity within living materials and to define conditions required for sustained functionality. The research examines variations in substrate composition, nutrient concentrations, moisture exposure, and operational duration to evaluate their effects on material performance and biological viability.
This research explores the digital fabrication of ceramic “living” building components as a method for investigating design conditions. The viability of the chlorophyte microalga Chlorella vulgaris was monitored over two-week periods while immobilized in kappa carrageenan and clay-binder hydrogels and cultivated on a range of digitally fabricated ceramic substrates. Three-dimensional printing is employed as a platform for controlled laboratory testing of substrate variables, including ceramic firing temperature, wall thickness, clay type, and geometric configurations. Variations in surface patterning, internal chamber subdivision, and component geometry are examined to assess their influence on cell growth and migration. The experiments highlight both the potentials and constraints of using geometric variation to establish micro-ecologies for algal cultivation and investigate the organism’s inherent sensing capacities as a mechanism for cell distribution.
