EAGER: Nanoparticle Enhanced Near-IR Photobacterial Conversion of Organic Waste to Hydrogen

EAGER：纳米粒子增强近红外光细菌将有机废物转化为氢气

• 批准号: 1700091
• 负责人: Dibakar Bhattacharyya
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-02-01 至 2019-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1700091&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: EAGER; Nanoparticle; Enhanced; Near; IR

Bacteria provide many useful functions in nature and in industrial sector ranging from degradation of wastes to production of methane to synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Some photo-active bacteria with proper food source and light activation can synthesize high-energy content fuel, such as, hydrogen. In addition, nanoparticles have lot of beneficial uses which range from transparent sunscreens to self-cleaning windows to smarter surfaces. This high risk-high payoff research project integrates nanotechnology, photoactive bacteria, and appropriate light source to convert waste organic acids to highly valuable clean energy. The transformative approach localizes light with enhanced intensity to maximize the production of hydrogen from waste organic acids. This EAGER award, with high impact in energy, environment and global economy involves the integration of photonics, biology, and nanostructured materials for clean fuel production. The technical aspects of the project involve the combination of photoresponsive bacteria, plasmonic nanoparticles, and selective membranes to produce hydrogen from waste materials. The approach will involve the understanding of hydrogen production from purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNS) illuminated by light sources matched with bacteria's absorption spectrum. More specifically, it is expected that narrowband illumination of R. Palustris in the near-IR will enhance both hydrogen production and light conversion efficiency. The innovative approach employs nanoparticles with localized surface plasmon resonances immobilized on a polymer membrane surface to enhance the intensity and scattering of light. The research will establish that if the bacteria on top of the nanoparticles are immobilized with a thin dielectric layer in between, it will highly enhance the overall process efficiency. There is clearly a need for a "high risk-high reward" approach to dramatically increase light-conversion while maintaining high substrate- conversion efficiency with the goal of combined waste remediation and renewable energy generation.

细菌在自然界和工业领域提供了许多有用的功能，从废物降解到甲烷生产再到药物合成。一些具有适当食物来源和光激活的光活性细菌可以合成高能燃料，例如氢气。此外，纳米粒子还有许多有益的用途，从透明防晒霜到自清洁窗户再到更智能的表面。这个高风险高回报的研究项目集成了纳米技术、光活性细菌和适当的光源，将废弃有机酸转化为高价值的清洁能源。这种变革性方法以增强的强度局部化光，以最大限度地利用废弃有机酸生产氢气。该 EAGER 奖项对能源、环境和全球经济具有重大影响，涉及光子学、生物学和纳米结构材料在清洁燃料生产中的整合。 该项目的技术方面涉及光响应细菌、等离子体纳米粒子和选择性膜的结合，以从废料中生产氢气。 该方法将涉及了解紫色非硫细菌（PNS）在与细菌吸收光谱相匹配的光源照射下产生氢气的情况。更具体地说，预计近红外范围内的 R. Palustris 窄带照明将提高氢气产量和光转换效率。该创新方法采用固定在聚合物膜表面上的具有局部表面等离子体共振的纳米颗粒来增强光的强度和散射。 该研究将确定，如果纳米颗粒顶部的细菌通过其间的薄介电层固定，将大大提高整体工艺效率。 显然需要一种“高风险高回报”的方法来显着提高光转换，同时保持高底物转换效率，以实现废物修复和可再生能源发电相结合的目标。