Solar Energy Harvesting from Photosynthetic Organisms using Bio Organic Electronics
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Linköpings universitet - Institutionen för teknik och naturvetenskap |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 858 570 |
| Project duration | November 2017 - January 2020 |
| Status | Completed |
Important results from the project
The purpose of the project was to develop advanced bioelectronics interfaces based on conducting polymers and their modifications with the aim to harvest energy from photosynthetic organisms and their components via biophotovoltaic (BPV) and photo-electrochemical (PEC) devices. Specifically, the purpose was to realize direct photocurrent harvesting from plants, bacteria, and algae using the recently developed material comprising the mixture of the conducting polymer PEDOT-nanocellulose (PEDOT-NFC) as flexible bio-organic electrode. The goal has been mostly fulfilled.
Expected long term effects
In addition to energy harvesting using photosynthetic membranes, the IR solar harvesting with PEDOT-NFC was successfully investigated and integrated into BPVs and PECs. Moreover, successful studies were done with PEDOT and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for making new biointerfaces with electroactive bacteria. These new interfaces can potentially contribute to the development of both photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic microbial technologies targeting energy harvesting and biosensing in environments such as the human gut. Two papers have been published, two are in progress.
Approach and implementation
Thylakoid membranes (TMs) were solar energy harvesters, and redox mediators shuttles of electrical charges to PEDOT-NFC electrodes. A protocol was developed to extract TMs from spinach leaves. A PEC was purchased that contained the solution with TMs and redox chemicals in an electrolyte. Halogen and NIR LED light sources were used to excite TMs and investigate the IR enhancement effect. For other studies, Shewanella oneidensis bacteria were grown and harvested, then integrated with PEDOT electrodes as part of microbial electronic devices or dissolved in bulk solutions with CNTs.