title: Silicification-induced cell aggregation for the sustainable production of H2 under aerobic conditions.
abstract: Photobiological hydrogen production is of great importance because of its promise for generating clean renewable energy. In nature, green algae cannot produce hydrogen as a result of the extreme sensitivity of hydrogenase to oxygen. However, we find that silicification-induced green algae aggregates can achieve sustainable photobiological hydrogen production even under natural aerobic conditions. The core-shell structure of the green algae aggregates creates a balance between photosynthetic electron generation and hydrogenase activity, thus allowing the production of hydrogen. This finding provides a viable pathway for the solar-driven splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen to develop green energy alternatives by using rationally designed cell-material complexes.
authors: Center for Biomaterials and Biopathways, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027 (China).
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Xiong
authors: College of Life and Environmental Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234 (China).
authors: Xiaohong
authors: X
authors: Zhao
authors: Center for Biomaterials and Biopathways, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027 (China).
authors: Genxing
authors: G
authors: Zhu
authors: Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies and State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027 (China).
authors: Changyu
authors: C
authors: Shao
authors: Center for Biomaterials and Biopathways, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027 (China).
authors: Yaling
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: College of Life and Environmental Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234 (China). wma@shnu.edu.cn.
authors: Weimin
authors: W
authors: Ma
authors: Qiushi Academy for Advanced Studies and State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027 (China). xrxu@zju.edu.cn.
authors: Xurong
authors: X
authors: Xu
authors: Center for Biomaterials and Biopathways, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027 (China). rtang@zju.edu.cn.
authors: Ruikang
authors: R
authors: Tang
mesh_terms: D032701:Biomimetics; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002708:Chlorella / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006864:Hydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D006864:Hydrogenase; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: H2 production; aggregation; core-shell structures; green algae; silicification