Self-assembled photosystem-I biophotovoltaics on nanostructured TiO[subscript 2] and ZnO
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Mershin-2012-Self-assembled photosystem.pdf
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Author(s)
Mershin, Andreas
Matsumoto, Kazuya
Kaiser, Liselotte
Yu, Daoyong
Vaughn, Michael
Nazeeruddin, Md. K.
Bruce, Barry D.
Graetzel, Michael
Zhang, Shuguang
Date Issued
February 2012
Journal
Scientific Reports
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Citation
Mershin, Andreas, Kazuya Matsumoto, Liselotte Kaiser, Daoyong Yu, Michael Vaughn, Md. K. Nazeeruddin, Barry D. Bruce, Michael Graetzel, and Shuguang Zhang. “Self-Assembled Photosystem-I Biophotovoltaics on Nanostructured TiO[subscript 2] and ZnO.” Sci. Rep. 2 (February 2, 2012).
Version
Final published version
Abstract
The abundant pigment-protein membrane complex photosystem-I (PS-I) is at the heart of the Earth’s energy cycle. It is the central molecule in the “Z-scheme” of photosynthesis, converting sunlight into the chemical energy of life. Commandeering this intricately organized photosynthetic nanocircuitry and re-wiring it to produce electricity carries the promise of inexpensive and environmentally friendly solar power. We here report that dry PS-I stabilized by surfactant peptides functioned as both the light-harvester and charge separator in solar cells self-assembled on nanostructured semiconductors. Contrary to previous attempts at biophotovoltaics requiring elaborate surface chemistries, thin film deposition, and illumination concentrated into narrow wavelength ranges the devices described here are straightforward and inexpensive to fabricate and perform well under standard sunlight yielding open circuit photovoltage of 0.5 V, fill factor of 71%, electrical power density of 81 µW/cm[superscript 2] and photocurrent density of 362 µA/cm[superscript 2], over four orders of magnitude higher than any photosystem-based biophotovoltaic to date.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Bits and Atoms
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Media Laboratory
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Creative Commons Attribution
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep00234
