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Espinoza-Araya C, Starbird R, Prasad ES, Renugopalakrishnan V, Mulchandani A, Bruce BD, Villarreal CC. A bacteriorhodopsin-based biohybrid solar cell using carbon-based electrolyte and cathode components. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOENERGETICS 2023; 1864:148985. [PMID: 37236292 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2023.148985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
There is currently a high demand for energy production worldwide, mainly producing renewable and sustainable energy. Bio-sensitized solar cells (BSCs) are an excellent option in this field due to their optical and photoelectrical properties developed in recent years. One of the biosensitizers that shows promise in simplicity, stability and quantum efficiency is bacteriorhodopsin (bR), a photoactive, retinal-containing membrane protein. In the present work, we have utilized a mutant of bR, D96N, in a photoanode-sensitized TiO2 solar cell, integrating low-cost, carbon-based components, including a cathode composed of PEDOT (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) functionalized with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and a hydroquinone/benzoquinone (HQ/BQ) redox electrolyte. The photoanode and cathode were characterized morphologically and chemically (SEM, TEM, and Raman). The electrochemical performance of the bR-BSCs was investigated using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), open circuit potential decay (VOC), and impedance spectroscopic analysis (EIS). The champion device yielded a current density (JSC) of 1.0 mA/cm2, VOC of -669 mV, a fill factor of ~24 %, and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.16 %. This bR device is one of the first bio-based solar cells utilizing carbon-based alternatives for the photoanode, cathode, and electrolyte. This may decrease the cost and significantly improve the device's sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Espinoza-Araya
- Escuela de Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 30101, Costa Rica; Centro de Investigación y Extensión en Ingeniería de Materiales (CIEMTEC), Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 30101, Costa Rica; Maestría en Ingeniería de Dispositivos Médicos, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 30101, Costa Rica
| | - Ricardo Starbird
- Centro de Investigación y de Servicios Químicos y Microbiológicos (CEQIATEC), Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 30101, Costa Rica; Escuela de Química, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 30101, Costa Rica
| | - E Senthil Prasad
- Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Venkatesan Renugopalakrishnan
- Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; MGB Center for COVID Innovation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Renewable Energy Technology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02138, USA
| | - Ashok Mulchandani
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Center for Environmental Research & Technology (CE-CERT), University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92507, USA
| | - Barry D Bruce
- Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; Program in Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, TN 37830, USA.
| | - Claudia C Villarreal
- Escuela de Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 30101, Costa Rica; Centro de Investigación y Extensión en Ingeniería de Materiales (CIEMTEC), Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago 30101, Costa Rica.
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Biomimetic Membranes as a Technology Platform: Challenges and Opportunities. MEMBRANES 2018; 8:membranes8030044. [PMID: 30018213 PMCID: PMC6161077 DOI: 10.3390/membranes8030044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Biomimetic membranes are attracting increased attention due to the huge potential of using biological functional components and processes as an inspirational basis for technology development. Indeed, this has led to several new membrane designs and applications. However, there are still a number of issues which need attention. Here, I will discuss three examples of biomimetic membrane developments within the areas of water treatment, energy conversion, and biomedicine with a focus on challenges and applicability. While the water treatment area has witnessed some progress in developing biomimetic membranes of which some are now commercially available, other areas are still far from being translated into technology. For energy conversion, there has been much focus on using bacteriorhodopsin proteins, but energy densities have so far not reached sufficient levels to be competitive with state-of-the-art photovoltaic cells. For biomedical (e.g., drug delivery) applications the research focus has been on the mechanism of action, and much less on the delivery 'per se'. Thus, in order for these areas to move forward, we need to address some hard questions: is bacteriorhodopsin really the optimal light harvester to be used in energy conversion? And how do we ensure that biomedical nano-carriers covered with biomimetic membrane material ever reach their target cells/tissue in sufficient quantities? In addition to these area-specific questions the general issue of production cost and scalability must also be treated in order to ensure efficient translation of biomimetic membrane concepts into reality.
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Mahyad B, Janfaza S, Hosseini ES. Bio-nano hybrid materials based on bacteriorhodopsin: Potential applications and future strategies. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2015; 225:194-202. [PMID: 26506028 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This review presents an overview of recent progress in the development of bio-nano hybrid materials based on the photoactive protein bacteriorhodopsin (bR). The interfacing of bR with various nanostructures including colloidal nanoparticles (such as quantum dots and Ag NPs) and nanoparticulate thin films (such as TiO2 NPs and ZnO NPs,) has developed novel functional materials. Applications of these materials are comprehensively reviewed in two parts: bioelectronics and solar energy conversion. Finally, some perspectives on possible future strategies in bR-based nanostructured devices are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baharak Mahyad
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal Ale Ahmad Highway, Tehran 14117, Iran
| | - Sajjad Janfaza
- Young Researchers & Elite Club, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal Ale Ahmad Highway, Tehran 14117, Iran.
| | - Elaheh Sadat Hosseini
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal Ale Ahmad Highway, Tehran 14117, Iran
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Molaeirad A, Rezaeian N. Oriented assembly of bacteriorhodopsin on ZnO nanostructured electrode for enhanced photocurrent generation. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2014; 62:489-93. [DOI: 10.1002/bab.1294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Molaeirad
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology; Malek-Ashtar University of Technology; Tehran Iran
| | - Niloofar Rezaeian
- Department of Biophysics; Science and Research Branch; Islamic Azad University; Tehran Iran
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