Collaborative research: Self-sustaining microbial photoelectrosynthesis for energy and fuel production

直接从阳光和水中利用能源为可持续的未来提供了巨大的机会。人工光合作用模拟植物将阳光、水和二氧化碳转化为可再生燃料和化学品的过程。目前的人工光合作用技术效率低，稳定性差，需要外部电压来维持转换，这是能源密集型的。此外，这些系统通常需要清洁的水来生产燃料。该项目将研究一种自给自足的微生物光电合成工艺的可行性，以解决太阳能到燃料转换中的能源和水问题。这种模块化系统可能会将昂贵的集中式能源和水基础设施转变为更可持续、更灵活和更模块化的解决方案。调查人员将培训研究生和本科生，并积极让代表性不足的少数族裔和女性参与进来。将开发新的课程材料以促进跨学科学习，并将与为社区提供的实地服务一起开发以实践为基础的学习方案。本项目将研究在一个生产燃料和电力的联合系统中，阳极上的微生物电化学氧化和阴极上的光电化学还原的集成。通过利用阳极产生的电位，微生物光电化学系统可以在不施加任何外部电压的情况下变得自我维持。该系统不需要清洁的水来运行，相反，它可能通过微生物有机氧化来清理废水。该项目将研究在两个电极上实现高电流密度和燃料生产(包括氢气、合成气和甲烷)的相互作用的潜在机制。燃料的产生将由新的单独的催化剂系统控制，这些系统旨在提高对目标产品的选择性。此外，还将采用新的阳极催化剂来促进阳极电子转移和有机氧化，并将设计可扩展的反应器系统。

Harnessing energy directly from sunlight and water presents a tremendous opportunity for a sustainable future. Artificial photosynthesis simulates plant processes to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into renewable fuels and chemicals. Current artificial photosynthesis technologies have low efficiency and stability and require an external electrical voltage to sustain the conversion, which is energy intensive. Also, frequently, these systems require clean water for fuel production. This project will investigate the feasibility of a self-sustaining microbial photoelectrosynthesis process to solve both energy and water problems in solar to fuel conversions. Such modular systems can potentially transform expensive centralized energy and water infrastructure to more sustainable, flexible, and modular solutions. The investigators will train graduate and undergraduate students and actively involve underrepresented minorities and women. New course materials will be developed to promote interdisciplinary learning, and practicum based learning programs will be developed in conjunction with field service for communities. This project will investigate the integration of microbial electrochemical oxidation on the anode and photoelectrochemical reduction on the cathode in a combined system to produce fuels and electricity. By utilizing the potential generated from the anode, microbial photoelectrochemical systems can become self-sustaining without any external voltage application. The system does not require clean water to operate, rather it potentially cleans up wastewater via microbial organic oxidation. The project will study the underlying mechanisms of the interactions at both electrodes to achieve high current density and fuels production including hydrogen, syngas and methane. Fuel generation will be controlled by new individual catalyst systems designed for increased selectivity towards targeted products. Moreover, new anode catalysts will be applied to facilitate anode electron transfer and organic oxidation, and scalable reactor systems will be designed.