title: Hybrid bioinorganic approach to solar-to-chemical conversion.
abstract: Natural photosynthesis harnesses solar energy to convert CO2 and water to value-added chemical products for sustaining life. We present a hybrid bioinorganic approach to solar-to-chemical conversion in which sustainable electrical and/or solar input drives production of hydrogen from water splitting using biocompatible inorganic catalysts. The hydrogen is then used by living cells as a source of reducing equivalents for conversion of CO2 to the value-added chemical product methane. Using platinum or an earth-abundant substitute, α-NiS, as biocompatible hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts and Methanosarcina barkeri as a biocatalyst for CO2 fixation, we demonstrate robust and efficient electrochemical CO2 to CH4 conversion at up to 86% overall Faradaic efficiency for ≥ 7 d. Introduction of indium phosphide photocathodes and titanium dioxide photoanodes affords a fully solar-driven system for methane generation from water and CO2, establishing that compatible inorganic and biological components can synergistically couple light-harvesting and catalytic functions for solar-to-chemical conversion.
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720;
authors: Eva M
authors: EM
authors: Nichols
authors: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720;
authors: Joseph J
authors: JJ
authors: Gallagher
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720;
authors: Chong
authors: C
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720;
authors: Yude
authors: Y
authors: Su
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720;
authors: Joaquin
authors: J
authors: Resasco
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720;
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322;
authors: Yujie
authors: Y
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720; p_yang@berkeley.edu mcchang@berkeley.edu chrischang@berkeley.edu.
authors: Peidong
authors: P
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; p_yang@berkeley.edu mcchang@berkeley.edu chrischang@berkeley.edu.
authors: Michelle C Y
authors: MC
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 p_yang@berkeley.edu mcchang@berkeley.edu chrischang@berkeley.edu.
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D004572:Electrolysis; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry; D017021:Methanosarcina barkeri / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D012993:Solar Energy; D013472:Sunlight; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D008697:Methane; D012825:Silicon
keywords: artificial photosynthesis; carbon dioxide fixation; photocatalysis; solar fuels; water splitting