Photoactive Semiconducting Biopolymers

该项目的基本目标是阐明、操纵和利用一类被称为黑色素的生物聚合物的独特化学和物理性质。这些材料是唯一已知的固态半导体生物聚合物，并且无毒，生物相容性和可生物降解。迄今为止，它们在仿生软电子、光电或光伏器件中作为有源元件的用途尚未得到证实。预计该项目的主要成果将是基于生物聚合物的光电化学和固态p-i-n太阳能电池的演示，以及对这些重要生物大分子的物理和化学的更好理解。

The basic aims of this project are to elucidate, manipulate, and utilise the unique chemical and physical properties of a class of biopolymers called the melanins. These materials are the only known solid state semiconducting biopolymers, and are non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable. Their use as active components in biomimetic soft electonic, optoelectronic or photovoltaic devices, has not hitherto been demonstrated. It is anticipated that the key outcomes from the project will be a demonstration of biopolymer-based photoelectrochemical and solid-state p-i-n solar cells, and an improved understanding of the physics and chemistry of these important biological macromolecules.