Microscopic cellular structures found in plants, chloroplast absorb light from the sun and after receiving water and carbon dioxide from the air, convert light into sugars that the plants need to survive. This is the process called photosynthesis.

Liao received a project grant from the National Science Council to develop solar cells by harnessing the light energy stored up within the chloroplast.

"We were trying to measure how much light was converted to electricity but our measuring instruments did not register any value," said Liao, who earned his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in plasma science and fusion technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology of the United States.

"We then decided to plug a single ordinary light-emitting diode (LED) into the plasma mass and Eureka! There was light."

The different-sized batteries usually sold at convenience stores are alkaline or zinc-carbon types.

"They have poisonous electrolytes that harm the environment and the underground water system," said Liao. "What we have accidentally discovered and will continue to develop have components taken from plants and the sugars found in sports drinks designed to help athletes rehydrate."

Ten seconds after immersion in water, beverages, or even urine, the chlorophyll organic battery can supply electricity. But for now, it only has a lifetime of 150 milliamp-hours, much less than the 2,000 milliamps you get from an alkaline cell. Milliamp-Hour means how much current a battery will discharge over a period of one hour.

The organic battery can be recharged for as many as five times by re-dipping it in liquid.

"Its lifetime actually depends on which type of equipment it is used," said Liao. "I would tell people that it can light an LED for two days."

"I recently did the same thing and it lit up the LED for three weeks; we're definitely improving and I hope that we could soon go into mass production."