A Biogenic Photovoltaic Material
Sarvesh Kumar Srivastavaa b✉, Przemyslaw Piweka b, Sonal R. Ayakara b, Arman Bonakdarpoura b c d, David P. Wilkinsona b c d, Vikramaditya Ganapati Yadava b e f✉
- aDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering The University of British Columbia 2360 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
- bDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3 Canada
- cClean Energy Research Centre The University of British Columbia 2360 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
- dClean Energy Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3 Canada
- eSchool of Biomedical Engineering The University of British Columbia 2360 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
- fSchool of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3 Canada
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
Abstract A proof‐of‐concept for the fabrication of genetically customizable biogenic materials for photovoltaic applications is presented. E. coli is first genetically engineered to heterologously express the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway from plants. This modification yields a strain that overproduces the photoactive pigment lycopene. The pigment‐producing cells are then coated with TiO 2 nanoparticles via a tryptophan‐mediated supramolecular interface, and subsequent incorporation of the resulting biogenic material (cells@TiO 2 ) as an anode in an I − /I 3 − ‐based dye‐sensitized solar cell yields an excellent photovoltaic (PV) response. This work lays strong foundations for the development of bio‐PV materials and next‐generation organic optoelectronics that are green, inexpensive, and easy to manufacture.
TL;DRThis work lays strong foundations for the development of bio-PV materials and next-generation organic optoelectronics that are green, inexpensive, and easy to manufacture. (Semantic Scholar)