Stabilization effect of single-walled carbon nanotubes on the functioning of photosynthetic reaction centers.
The interaction between single-walled carbon nanotubes and photosynthetic reaction centers purified from purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26 has been investigated. Atomic force microscopy studies provide evidence that reaction center protein can be attached effectively to the nanotubes. The typical diameter of the nanotube is 1-4 nm and 15 +/- 2 nm without and with the reaction centers, respectively. Light-induced absorption change measurements indicate the stabilization of the P+(Q(A)Q(B))- charge pair, which is formed after single saturating light excitation after the attachment to nanotubes. The separation of light-induced charges is followed by slow reorganization of the protein structure. The stabilization effect of light-initiated charges by the carbon nanotubes opens a possible direction of several applications, the most promising being in energy conversion and storage devices.
Dorogi
Marta
M
Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
Balint
Zoltan
Z
Mikó
Csilla
C
Vileno
Bertrand
B
Milas
Mirko
M
Hernadi
Klara
K
Forró
Laszló
L
Varó
György
G
Nagy
Laszló
L
D004563:Electrochemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D012242:Rhodobacter sphaeroides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins