Photosynthetic reaction center-functionalized electrodes for photo-bioelectrochemical cells

Omer Yehezkeli, Ran Tel-Vered, Dorit Michaeli, Itamar Willner, Rachel Nechushtai*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

93 Scopus citations

Abstract

During the last few years, intensive research efforts have been directed toward the application of several highly efficient light-harvesting photosynthetic proteins, including reaction centers (RCs), photosystem I (PSI), and photosystem II (PSII), as key components in the light-triggered generation of fuels or electrical power. This review highlights recent advances for the nano-engineering of photo-bioelectrochemical cells through the assembly of the photosynthetic proteins on electrode surfaces. Various strategies to immobilize the photosynthetic complexes on conductive surfaces and different methodologies to electrically wire them with the electrode supports are presented. The different photoelectrochemical systems exhibit a wide range of photocurrent intensities and power outputs that sharply depend on the nano-engineering strategy and the electroactive components. Such cells are promising candidates for a future production of biologically-driven solar power.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)71-85
Number of pages15
JournalPhotosynthesis Research
Volume120
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2014

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments The support of the photo-bioelectrochemical project by the Minerva Foundation is gratefully acknowledged. O.Y. acknowledges the Levi Eshkol fellowship, The Ministry of Science and Technology, Israel.

Keywords

  • Electron transfer (ET)
  • Energy conversion
  • Photocurrent
  • Photoelectrochemical cell
  • Reaction center (RC)

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