Photoelectrochemical complexes for solar energy conversion that chemically and autonomously regenerate.
Naturally occurring photosynthetic systems use elaborate pathways of self-repair to limit the impact of photo-damage. Here, we demonstrate a complex consisting of two recombinant proteins, phospholipids and a carbon nanotube that mimics this process. The components self-assemble into a configuration in which an array of lipid bilayers aggregate on the surface of the carbon nanotube, creating a platform for the attachment of light-converting proteins. The system can disassemble upon the addition of a surfactant and reassemble upon its removal over an indefinite number of cycles. The assembly is thermodynamically metastable and can only transition reversibly if the rate of surfactant removal exceeds a threshold value. Only in the assembled state do the complexes exhibit photoelectrochemical activity. We demonstrate a regeneration cycle that uses surfactant to switch between assembled and disassembled states, resulting in an increased photoconversion efficiency of more than 300% over 168 hours and an indefinite extension of the system lifetime.
Ham
Moon-Ho
MH
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Choi
Jong Hyun
JH
School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Bindley Bioscience Center, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
Boghossian
Ardemis A
AA
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Jeng
Esther S
ES
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Graff
Rachel A
RA
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Heller
Daniel A
DA
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Chang
Alice C
AC
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Mattis
Aidas
A
Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Bayburt
Timothy H
TH
Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Grinkova
Yelena V
YV
Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Zeiger
Adam S
AS
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Van Vliet
Krystyn J
KJ
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Hobbie
Erik K
EK
Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA.
Sligar
Stephen G
SG
Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Wraight
Colin A
CA
Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Strano
Michael S
MS
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
D004563:Electrochemistry; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D010777:Photochemistry; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D012993:Solar Energy
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010743:Phospholipids; D011994:Recombinant Proteins