Biophotovoltaics: oxygenic photosynthetic organisms in the world of bioelectrochemical systems

Alistair J Mccormick,Robert W Bradley,Christopher J Howe,Tobias Wenzel,Rebecca Thorne,Paolo Bombelli

doi:10.1039/c4ee03875d

Abstract

In this review we focus on a specific sub-branch of light-harvesting bioelectrochemical systems called biophotovoltaic systems.

Highlights

Life depends on the transfer of electrons between different biochemical intermediates to discharge or capture energy, or drive chemical change
Dr Robert Bradley received his MSci (Hons) from the University of Cambridge in 2009, and remained there to study for his PhD. Research for his doctoral thesis centred on using genetic approaches to gain an understanding of the molecular processes involved in electron export from cyanobacteria, so that export rates might be increased through rational genetic engineering
Having considered possible routes for electron export, we look at systems where photosynthetic organisms are used for current generation and highlight the best performances to date for each (Fig. 5; Electronic supplementary information (ESI) Table 1†)

Summary

Introduction

The relatively sudden proliferation of studies involving lightharvesting BESs has led to the generation of a large variety of different system designs (Fig. 1 and 2). Dr Robert Bradley received his MSci (Hons) from the University of Cambridge in 2009, and remained there to study for his PhD Research for his doctoral thesis centred on using genetic approaches to gain an understanding of the molecular processes involved in electron export from cyanobacteria, so that export rates might be increased through rational genetic engineering. Dr Paolo Bombelli has a multidisciplinary background with speci c interests in energy conversion and photosynthesis He holds an MSc in Plant Biology from the University of Milano-Statale (Italy) and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge (UK). We will present an estimate of the achievable power outputs of BPV devices (Section 5), and discuss future scienti c goals to advance this promising, but as yet relatively underdeveloped technology

An introduction to microbial electron transfer and microbial fuel cells

BPVs and other light-harvesting BESs

The molecular basis of exoelectrogenic activity in cyanobacteria

Findings

Achievable power outputs for BPVs