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，从降解废物到产生甲烷到合成药物。某些光活性细菌在适当的食物来源和光活化条件下可以合成高能量的燃料，如氢气。此外，纳米粒子有很多有益的用途，从透明防晒霜到自清洁窗户到更智能的表面。这个高风险高回报的研究项目整合了纳米技术，光敏细菌和适当的光源，将废弃的有机酸转化为高价值的清洁能源。这种变革性的方法使光具有更高的强度，以最大限度地从废有机酸中生产氢气。EAGER奖在能源、环境和全球经济方面具有很高的影响力，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组合，以从废物中产生氢气。 该方法将涉及理解由与细菌吸收光谱相匹配的光源照射的紫色非硫细菌（PNS）的氢气生产。更具体地，预期R.近红外的沼泽地将提高氢气的产生和光转换效率。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，以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被固定在其间的薄介电层上，它将大大提高整个过程的效率。 显然需要一种“高风险-高回报”方法来显著增加光转化，同时保持高底物转化效率，目标是结合废物治理和可再生能源产生。

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.