Increasing efficiency of photoelectronic conversion by encapsulation of photosynthetic reaction center proteins in arrayed carbon nanotube electrode.
The construction of efficient light energy converting (photovoltaic and photoelectronic) devices is a current and great challenge in science and technology and one that will have important economic consequences. Here we show that the efficiency of these devices can be improved by the utilization of a new type of nano-organized material having photosynthetic reaction center proteins encapsulated inside carbon nanotube arrayed electrodes. In this work, a generically engineered bacterial photosynthetic reaction center protein with specifically synthesized organic molecular linkers were encapsulated inside carbon nanotubes and bound to the inner tube walls in unidirectional orientation. The results show that the photosynthetic proteins encapsulated inside carbon nanotubes are photochemically active and exhibit considerable improvement in the rate of electron transfer and the photocurrent density compared to the material constructed from the same components in traditional lamella configuration.
Lebedev
Nikolai
N
Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Code 6900, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA. nnl@cbmse.nrl.navy.mil
Trammell
Scott A
SA
Tsoi
Stanislav
S
Spano
Anthony
A
Kim
Jin Ho
JH
Xu
Jimmy
J
Twigg
Mark E
ME
Schnur
Joel M
JM
D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D004566:Electrodes; D004583:Electrons; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008958:Models, Molecular; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010788:Photosynthesis; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D012242:Rhodobacter sphaeroides / Q000201:enzymology; D013499:Surface Properties
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins