Efficient Photoelectrochemical Energy Conversion using Spinach Photosystem II (PSII) in Lipid Multilayer Films

ChemistryOpen

Yun Zhang¹  Nikki M. Magdaong¹  Min Shen¹  Prof. Harry A. Frank¹ 

[1] Department of Chemistry and Green Emulsions, Micelles, & Surfactants (GEMS) Center, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

关键词: clean energy;    lipid films;    natural products;    photoelectrochemistry;    photosystem II;   

DOI  :  10.1002/open.201402080

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

The need for clean, renewable energy has fostered research into photovoltaic alternatives to silicon solar cells. Pigment–protein complexes in green plants convert light energy into chemical potential using redox processes that produce molecular oxygen. Here, we report the first use of spinach protein photosystem II (PSII) core complex in lipid films in photoelectrochemical devices. Photocurrents were generated from PSII in a ∼2 μm biomimetic dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) film on a pyrolytic graphite (PG) anode with PSII embedded in multiple lipid bilayers. The photocurrent was ∼20 μA cm⁻² under light intensity 40 mW cm⁻². The PSII–DMPC anode was used in a photobiofuel cell with a platinum black mesh cathode in perchloric acid solution to give an output voltage of 0.6 V and a maximum output power of 14 μW cm⁻². Part of this large output is related to a five-unit anode–cathode pH gradient. With catholytes at higher pH or no perchlorate, or using an MnO₂ oxygen-reduction cathode, the power output was smaller. The results described raise the possibility of using PSII–DMPC films in small portable power conversion devices.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC-ND   
© 2014 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.