Photoelectrochemical complexes for solar energy conversion that chemically and autonomously regenerate

Abstract

Naturally occurring photosynthetic systems use elaborate pathways of self-repair to limit the impact of photo-damage. Herein, we demonstrate a complex that mimics this process consisting of two recombinant proteins, phospholipids and a carbon nanotube. The components self-assemble into a configuration in which an array of lipid bilayers aggregate on the surface of the carbon nanotube, creating a platform for the attachment of light-converting proteins. The system can disassemble upon the addition of a surfactant and reassemble on its removal over an indefinite number of cycles. The assembly is thermodynamically meta-stable and can only transition reversibly if the rate of surfactant removal exceeds about 10−5 sec−1. Only in the assembled state do the complexes exhibit photoelectrochemical activity. We demonstrate a regeneration cycle that uses surfactant to switch between assembled and disassembled states, resulting in increased photo-conversion efficiency of more than 300% over 168 hours and an indefinite extension of the system's lifetime.

Integrated photosystem II-based photo-bioelectrochemical cells

“…Different bioelectrochemical devices that implement the RC, PSI and/or PSII as light harnessing components for the activation of PBFCs producing photocurrents [19][20][21][22] , or fuel products [23][24][25] have been proposed. These PBFCs require the immobilization and electrical contacting of the light harnessing components with the electrode supports to the extent that photo-induced electrontransfer processes occur between the photosynthetic RC, thus enabling the generation of photocurrents (or their use for the synthesis of fuel products).…”

Self-healing and self-repairing technologies

“…Figure 3 represents a classification of mechanisms for self-healing and self-repair describing the type of mechanism used. Four categories were identified: reorganising available resources, organising new resources, inhibiting [158] Validation in the lab component and reconfiguration Self-focusing (airy beams) L1 [159] Principle observed and reported Molecular self-reassembly L4 [160,161] Component validation in the lab further failures and adapting the functional behaviour. This classification is different from the one used in Table 12 (physical solutions), Table 10 (materials related solutions), Table 11 (redundancy-related solutions) and Table 13 (computing-related solutions).…”

“…Self-healing photovoltaics [160,161] are at a border-line between self-healing and self-replicating: the molecules of which the photovoltaic substance consists of constantly disassemble and re-assemble. This way, the substance never remains in a static state, which would lead to the substance's degradation due to the solar radiation.…”

Noncovalent Protein and Peptide Functionalization of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Biodelivery and Optical Sensing Applications

“…14,37 In addition to bioanalyte sensing applications, the high surface area-to-volume ratio and uniform structural integrity of the surface allow the nanotube to behave as a scaffold for protein and peptide immobilization 34,38 for drug delivery applications. Nanotube fluorescence in this regard has been used to monitor protein self-assembly 39 and activity. 40 Most noncovalent immobilization techniques can be broadly categorized into two groups: (i) purely adsorptive and (ii) hybrid approaches ( Figure 1).…”