Organic photovoltaic cells based on photoactive bacteriorhodopsin proteins

Al-Aribe, Khaled M.; Knopf, George K.; Bassi, Amarjeet

doi:10.1117/12.2004018

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…65 A recent study on fabricating a photovoltaic cell using aqueous bacteriorho- dopsin generated a photoelectric response of ∼33 μA cm −2 . 66 Overall, the tendency toward biomimetic devices and the need for the production of clean energy by mimicking nature brings the light-capturing proteins applications in bioelectronic devices to the forefront of cutting-edge research. The overall effort will advance the application of biological materials in electronic devices with a far reaching impact in the fields of solar cells, biosensors, and bionanotechnology.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Beside carotenoid-based photosystems, bacteriorhodopsin as a robust light-driven proton pump has found various applications in solar energy conversion, ,, optoelectronics, and organic field effect transistors . A recent study on fabricating a photovoltaic cell using aqueous bacteriorhodopsin generated a photoelectric response of ∼33 μA cm −2 . Overall, the tendency toward biomimetic devices and the need for the production of clean energy by mimicking nature brings the light-capturing proteins applications in bioelectronic devices to the forefront of cutting-edge research.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The increasing demand for the production of energy without a direct link to combustion of a fossil fuel and the accompanying production of CO 2 has brought attention to the deployment of biomolecules for fabrication of biophotoelectrochemical cells. The biophotoelectrochemical cell uses technologies that exploit biomimetic means of energy conversion by utilizing plant-derived photosystems. , Different types of protein complexes may be employed to fabricate a biophotoelectrochemical cell, including reaction centers (RCs) from the Rhodobacter (R.) sphaeroides bacterium, plant photosystems, and bacteriorhodopsin proteins. − Several studies of the R. sphaeroides RC have shown promise for the utilization of this RC in biophotoelectrochemical cells. ,,− ,− The RC is a transmembrane protein that has nearly 100% quantum yield of primary charge separationi.e., the formation of charged primary donor (P + ) and final acceptor (Q B – )and an efficient stabilization of separated charges. − Most RC-integrated photoelectrochemical cells fabricated to date have been comprised of a cell with isolated RCs or RCs surrounded with a light harvesting (LH) pigment–protein antenna attached to a working electrode, immersed in an electrolyte with one or more redox mediators. ,,,,,,,, The use of RC–LH pigment–protein by several groups has shown improved photocurrent densities over those obtained with the RC alone. ,, Although the RC’s internal quantum efficiency is very high and the use of LH ring around the RC was shown to enhance the photon absorption, , the charge transfer between RCs and electrodes is another feature that influences biomolecule-based solar energy conversion.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Hybrid Wiring of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides Reaction Center for Applications in Bio-photoelectrochemical Solar Cells

Yaghoubi¹,

Li²,

Jun

et al. 2014

J. Phys. Chem. C

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The growing demand for nonfossil fuel-based energy production has drawn attention to the utilization of natural proteins such as photosynthetic reaction center (RC) protein complexes to harvest solar energy. The current study reports on an immobilization method to bind the wild type Rhodobacter sphaeroides RC from the primary donor side onto a Au electrode using an immobilized cytochrome c (cyt c) protein via a docking mechanism. The new structure has been assembled on a Au electrode by layer-by-layer deposition of a carboxylic acid-terminated alkanethiol (HOOC (CH2)5S) self-assembled monolayer (SAM), and layers of cyt c and RC. The Au|SAM|cyt c|RC working electrode was applied in a three-probe electrochemical cell where a peak cathodic photocurrent density of 0.5 μA cm–2 was achieved. Further electrochemical study of the Au|SAM|cyt c|RC structure demonstrated ∼70% RC surface coverage. To understand the limitations in the electron transfer through the linker structure, a detailed energy study of the SAM and cyt c was performed using photochronoamperometry, ellipsometry, photoemission spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Using a simple rectangle energy barrier model, it was found that the electrode work function and the large barrier of the SAM are accountable for the low conductance in the devised linker structure.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Hybrid Wiring of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides Reaction Center for Applications in Bio-photoelectrochemical Solar Cells

Yaghoubi¹,

Li²,

Jun

et al. 2014

J. Phys. Chem. C

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, oriented films of bR purple membranes on indium tin oxide demonstrated an efficient and stable photocurrent response . In addition, photovoltaic cells developed using bR as the light-activated component generated a photoelectronic response of 9.73 and 41.7 mV/cm 2 in dry and aqueous systems, respectively, showing viability as a power source for nanoscale electronic devices …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Theoretical Evidence for Multiple Charge Transfer Pathways in Bacteriorhodopsin

Lee

Mertz

2016

J. Chem. Theory Comput.

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The development of molecular-scale junctions utilizing biomolecules is a challenging field that requires intimate knowledge of the relationship between molecular structure and conductance characteristics. One of the key parameters to understanding conductance efficiency is the charge mobility, which strongly influences the response time of electronic devices. The charge mobility of bacteriorhodopsin (bR), a membrane protein that has been studied experimentally in detail, was theoretically investigated using extended Marcus-Hush theory. Charge mobilities of 1.3 × 10(-2) and 9.7 × 10(-4) cm(2)/(V s) for hole and electron transfer, respectively, were determined. The computed electron mobility is comparable to experimentally measured values (9 × 10(-4) cm(2)/(V s)). Interestingly, the pathways for hole and electron hopping were very distinct from each other, utilizing different transmembrane helices to traverse the protein. In particular, only the electron transfer pathway involved the retinal chromophore, indicating that the efficiency of charge transfer is directly affected by the tertiary arrangement of proteins. Our results provide a template for obtaining the molecular and electronic-level details that can reveal fundamental insights into experimental studies on protein electron transport and inform efficient design of biomolecular-based junctions on the nanoscale.

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“…Al-Aribe et al [ 43 ] described dry and wet PM films used in a photovoltaic cell. They used a self-assembled monolayer with biotin binding on a gold coated substrate.…”

Section: Optoelectric Bacteriorhodopsinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances in the Field of Bionanotechnology: An Insight into Optoelectric Bacteriorhodopsin, Quantum Dots, and Noble Metal Nanoclusters

Knoblauch

Griep

Friedrich

2014

Sensors

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Molecular sensors and molecular electronics are a major component of a recent research area known as bionanotechnology, which merges biology with nanotechnology. This new class of biosensors and bioelectronics has been a subject of intense research over the past decade and has found application in a wide variety of fields. The unique characteristics of these biomolecular transduction systems has been utilized in applications ranging from solar cells and single-electron transistors (SETs) to fluorescent sensors capable of sensitive and selective detection of a wide variety of targets, both organic and inorganic. This review will discuss three major systems in the area of molecular sensors and electronics and their application in unique technological innovations. Firstly, the synthesis of optoelectric bacteriorhodopsin (bR) and its application in the field of molecular sensors and electronics will be discussed. Next, this article will discuss recent advances in the synthesis and application of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Finally, this article will conclude with a review of the new and exciting field of noble metal nanoclusters and their application in the creation of a new class of fluorescent sensors.

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Organic photovoltaic cells based on photoactive bacteriorhodopsin proteins

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Hybrid Wiring of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides Reaction Center for Applications in Bio-photoelectrochemical Solar Cells

Hybrid Wiring of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides Reaction Center for Applications in Bio-photoelectrochemical Solar Cells

Theoretical Evidence for Multiple Charge Transfer Pathways in Bacteriorhodopsin

Recent Advances in the Field of Bionanotechnology: An Insight into Optoelectric Bacteriorhodopsin, Quantum Dots, and Noble Metal Nanoclusters

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