Photosynthetic protein-based solar cells

基于光合蛋白质的太阳能电池

• 批准号: 396762-2010
• 负责人: Madden, John
• 金额: $ 10.1万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Strategic Projects - Group
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2010-01-01 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=467762
• 关键词: Photosynthetic; protein; based; solar; cells

Plants and photosynthetic bacteria harvest sunlight with incredibly high efficiencies and convert light energy to chemical potential energy. Can we benefit from nature's methods in order to generate electrical power? This proposal is to take an interdisciplinary approach to this question. The methods rely on genetic engineering and biochemical separation techniques, along with device modeling and fabrication techniques. The creation of new photosynthesis protein variants and development of biochemical methods, in combination with the modeling and fabrication skills has resulted in an opportunity to investigate and exploit the incredible solar to electrical energy conversion capabilities of naturally occurring proteins. The specific experiments will utilize proteins that naturally harvest light energy and convert this energy to a flow of electrons. In photosynthesis, this electron flow is immediately tapped in chemical reactions by other proteins in a living cell. In our work we will remove the proteins from the cell, such that the light-driven electron flow is diverted to a fabricated electrode and enters an electrical circuit, where it can be used to power devices. Work by others has shown the feasibility of this approach but currents and voltages have been much smaller than is theoretically possible. In our approach the efficient transfer of electrons from the protein to the electrode will be enhanced by developing the optimum combination of: 1) genetically engineered proteins, those surface properties are changed in geometrically and chemically precise ways; 2) mediators of charge storage and transfer between the protein and either a cathode or an anode; 3) electrodes designed to interact with either the cathode- or anode-specific mediator. The net result of this approach will be much more efficient movement of charges between the protein

植物和光合细菌以令人难以置信的高效率收集阳光，并将光能转化为化学势能。我们能从大自然的方法中获益来发电吗？这一建议是对这一问题采取跨学科的办法。这些方法依赖于基因工程和生化分离技术，以及沿着设备建模和制造技术。新的光合作用蛋白变体的产生和生物化学方法的发展，结合建模和制造技术，为研究和利用天然蛋白质令人难以置信的太阳能到电能转换能力提供了机会。具体的实验将利用自然收集光能并将这种能量转化为电子流的蛋白质。在光合作用中，这种电子流立即被活细胞中的其他蛋白质在化学反应中利用。在我们的工作中，我们将从细胞中去除蛋白质，这样光驱动的电子流就被转移到一个制造的电极上，并进入一个电路，在那里它可以被用来为设备供电。其他人的工作表明了这种方法的可行性，但电流和电压比理论上可能的要小得多。在我们的方法中，电子从蛋白质到电极的有效转移将通过开发以下的最佳组合来增强：1）遗传工程蛋白质，这些表面性质以几何和化学精确的方式改变; 2）蛋白质与阴极或阳极之间的电荷储存和转移的介质; 3）设计成与阴极特异性介体或阳极特异性介体相互作用的电极。这种方法的最终结果将是蛋白质之间的电荷更有效地移动