Photosynthetic apparatus of Rhodobacter sphaeroides exhibits prolonged charge storage

Nature Communications
Sai Kishore RaviSwee Ching Tan

Abstract

Photosynthetic proteins have been extensively researched for solar energy harvesting. Though the light-harvesting and charge-separation functions of these proteins have been studied in depth, their potential as charge storage systems has not been investigated to the best of our knowledge. Here, we report prolonged storage of electrical charge in multilayers of photoproteins isolated from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. Direct evidence for charge build-up within protein multilayers upon photoexcitation and external injection is obtained by Kelvin-probe and scanning-capacitance microscopies. Use of these proteins is key to realizing a 'self-charging biophotonic device' that not only harvests light and photo-generates charges but also stores them. In strong correlation with the microscopic evidence, the phenomenon of prolonged charge storage is also observed in primitive power cells constructed from the purple bacterial photoproteins. The proof-of-concept power cells generated a photovoltage as high as 0.45 V, and stored charge effectively for tens of minutes with a capacitance ranging from 0.1 to 0.2 F m-2.

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Citations

Jun 17, 2020·Advanced Science·Daniel N RoxbyYu-Cheng Chen
Nov 26, 2020·Advanced Materials·Yong Jae KimWonHyoung Ryu
Apr 14, 2020·ACS Nano·Devon S JakobXiaoji G Xu
Jun 14, 2020·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta. Bioenergetics·Alexey A ZabelinAnatoly Ya Shkuropatov
Oct 9, 2021·Chemical Society Reviews·Jungjin YoonKai Wang
Jan 20, 2022·Nanoscale Horizons : the Home for Rapid Reports of Exceptional Significance in Nanoscience and Nanotechnolgy·Nikita PaulSwee Ching Tan

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
atomic force microscopy
AFM
size exclusion chromatography

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