Plankton-like protocells for artificial photosynthesis targeting carbon-neutral energy vectors

虽然成熟的太阳能技术（如光伏、光电化学电池）不能同时解决未来多方面的能源挑战，但plankton - on旨在开发一种破坏性的净零排放技术，以解决全球能源需求和地球的再氧化问题。受大自然的启发，我们提议组装第一个合成的浮游生物样的原始细胞，它们自主地利用光、水和二氧化碳来产生O2和甲酸，作为绿色H2载体。为此，浮游生物样的原始细胞将被塑造成两个协同子域的容器，模仿天然质体和二氧化碳酶细胞器。人造质体（第一类原细胞器）将利用光将H2O氧化为O2并还原甲基紫素（MV）辅因子，后者将为富含二氧化碳的原细胞器提供食物，通过级联酶反应选择性地产生甲酸。我们期待这一原始的生物启发策略将为可持续的太阳能氢开辟一条道路。长期影响被设想为突破性太阳能技术的科学创新，超越了传统的光电化学电缆资产，并且很容易被利用，以增强欧盟在世界上“智能建筑作为微型能源中心”的愿景。基础研究进展将由浮游生物创新雷达活动监测，受我们的知识产权政策保护，并传播给预期的利益相关者和公众。来自4个欧盟国家、5个研究中心和1家技术公司的6个合作伙伴之间的多学科合作，巩固了以欧盟使命为目标的项目活动。浮游生物on依靠其科学咨询委员会的宝贵经验，来自普林斯顿（美国）、伯克利（美国）、东京（日本）和洛桑epfl（瑞士）的国际知名科学家将在光管理、光催化和绿色H2运输领域对结果进行评估和基准测试

Project summary While mature solar technologies (i.e. photovoltaics, photo-electrochemical cells) cannot simultaneously address the multi-faceted future energy challenge, PLANKT-ON aims to develop a disruptive net-zero emissions technology to both address the global energy demand and reoxygenation of our planet. Inspired by Nature, we propose to assemble the first synthetic plankton-like protocells that autonomously utilise light, water, and CO2 to produce O2 and formate, as a green H2 vector. To this aim, the plankton-like protocells will be shaped as containers of two synergic subdomains mimicking the natural plastids and the CO2-enzyme organelles. The artificial plastid (1st type proto-organelle) will utilise light to oxidise H2O to O2 and reduce a methyl viologen (MV) cofactor, this latter will feed the CO2-rich proto-organelle to selectively produce formate by a cascade enzymatic reaction. We are expecting that this original bio-inspired strategy will open a route to sustainable solar hydrogen. The long term impact is envisaged for scientific innovation in groundbreaking solar technology, going beyond the conventional photoelectrochemical cabled asset, and readily exploitable for empowering the EU vision for “Smart Buildings as Micro-Energy Hubs” in the world. Fundamental Research advances will be monitored by PLANKT-ON innovation radar activities, protected by our IP policy and disseminated to reach the expected stakeholders and the general public. Multidisciplinary collaboration among the 6 partners, from 4 EU countries, 5 research centres, and 1 technology-based company, underpins the project activities that will target the EU mission. PLANKT-ON counts on the valuable experience of its Scientific Advisory Committee where international renowned scientists from Princeton (USA), Berkeley (USA), Tokyo (Japan) and EPFL-Lausanne (Switzerland) will contribute to the results evaluation and benchmarking in the field of light management, photo-catalysis and green H2 transport