Thermal magnesium cells take Egyptian researcher into the world.
At a young age, he was surrounded by photos of Egypt’s pioneer chemist Ahmed Zewail, whose image gave him a lifetime inspiration. The truly genuine passion for science in general and energy in particular took researcher Ahmed Diab into the world with a project to produce electricity from thermal magnesium cells, which are more efficient than conventional solar cells made of silicon.
“I remember that the first time I presented my idea, I received a negative comment that it cannot be implemented. But I decided to move ahead with my dream, turning this negative comment into positive energy,” Diab told the Egyptian Mail.
This creative idea has made Diab, who is a fresh graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, the first Egyptian and Arab researcher to be shortlisted for the Stephen Hawking Prize which is awarded annually by the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences for the best scientific contributions.
The prize is worth $1 million, and the winner receives a gold medal bearing a portrait of the great cosmologist.
“The idea flashed in my mind in 2015 when I was in the preparatory school. In science, we learned that chlorophyll absorbs sunlight in photosynthesis and therein lies the rub,” he said.
Since 2015, Diab has been delving into the ways of producing so-called sustainable electricity using thermal magnesium cells. “There is a ten-year plan, from 2015 to 2025 to finalise the product as we have to conduct 17 experiments to turn this project into final product.
“So far, we have conducted 15 experiments and we have a prototype. There are still two required experiments to have the final product,” he said.
These experiments were conducted in around 14 universities including Zewail University, Cairo and Beni Sueif University. According to Diab, such thermal cells are more effective than solar ones as in terms of raw materials. They are 93 per cent efficient, while solar cell efficiency is 71 per cent.
“More importantly, thermal cells produce sustainable energy as they use infrared rays which are available over 24 hours, while solar cells only work when there is renewable solar energy,” he said.
In general, the magnesium atom in the plant, which carries chloroprene, which is responsible for absorbing light, depends on storing energy in infrared radiation to continue generating it even in the absence of light.
The researcher went on to say that he contacted the Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker, and conducted an experiment before him showing the difference between the production of electricity from a thermal cell and a solar cell. “The minister was surprised by the result.”
The lifespan of thermal cells is much longer than solar.
“In a nutshell, thermal cells cost less and are more efficient. They do not depend on photons but on infrared rays. In addition, they produce electricity throughout the day and need minimal maintenance,” he said.
Diab has so far participated in more than 130 conferences, exhibitions and scientific competitions internationally and locally, receiving many advanced ranks and special prizes.
For instance, he was awarded the 2016 American RICOH Award, which is given to the three best pieces of research in sustainable development. He also received the Scientific Excellence Award from the Minister of Higher Education and President of the Academy of Scientific Research in 2017.
He won the British William Herschel Prize in 2018 and Scientific Excellence Award on Science Day in 2019 and 2020.
Diab said the magnesium cell project will have a positive impact on the national economy as Egypt is to be the first country in the Middle East to produce a new type of sustainable energy in the spirit of Egypt-Vision 2030.
“I strive for the product to be purely Egyptian, I dream of writing ‘Made in Egypt’ on it, so I will work day and night to achieve it.
“I have refused offers to complete the product and the experiments outside Egypt. I started in Egypt and I will reach my dream here.”
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