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

细菌在自然界和工业部门提供了许多有用的功能，从降解废物到生产甲烷再到合成药物。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，如氢气。此外，纳米颗粒还有很多有益的用途，从透明的防晒霜到自动清洁的窗户，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，将废弃的有机酸转化为非常有价值的清洁能源。这种变革性的方法以增强的强度定位光线，以最大限度地从废弃的有机酸中产生氢气。这项在能源、环境和全球经济方面具有重大影响的奖项涉及光子学、生物学和纳米结构材料的集成，用于生产清洁燃料。该项目的技术方面涉及将光敏感型细菌、等离子纳米颗粒和选择性膜相结合，从废物中生产氢气。这一方法将涉及理解紫色非硫细菌(PNS)在与细菌吸收光谱匹配的光源照射下产生氢气的情况。更具体地说，预计沼泽红假单胞菌在近红外波段的窄带光照将提高产氢和光转换效率。这种创新的方法使用纳米粒子，将局部表面等离子体共振固定在聚合物膜表面，以增强光的强度和散射。这项研究将确定，如果将纳米颗粒顶部的细菌固定在中间的薄介电层中，将极大地提高整个过程的效率。显然需要一种“高风险-高回报”的办法，在保持高底物转化效率的同时，大幅增加光转化，目标是综合治理废物和产生可再生能源。

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.