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Title: Supramolecular Structures for Photochemical Energy Conversion

Abstract

OAK B188 The goal of this project is to mimic the energy transduction processes by which photosynthetic organisms harvest sunlight and convert it to forms of energy that are more easily used and stored. The results may lead to new technologies for solar energy harvesting based on the natural photosynthetic process. They may also enrich our understanding and control of photosynthesis in living organisms, and lead to methods for increasing natural biomass production, carbon dioxide removal, and oxygen generation. In our work to date, we have learned how to make synthetic antenna and reaction center molecules that absorb light and undergo photoinduced electron transfer to generate long-lived, energetic charge-separated states. We have assembled a prototype system in which artificial reaction centers are inserted into liposomes (artificial cell-like constructs), where they carry out light-driven transmembrane translocation of hydrogen ions to generate proton motive force. By insertion of natural ATP synthase into the liposomal bilayer, this proton motive force has been used to power the synthesis of ATP. ATP is a natural biological energy currency. We are carrying out a systematic investigation of these artificial photosynthetic energy harvesting constructs in order to understand better how they operate. In addition, we are exploringmore » strategies for reversing the direction of the light-powered proton pumping. Most recently, we have extended these studies to develop a light-powered transmembrane calcium ion pump that converts sunlight into energy stored as a calcium ion concentration gradient across a lipid bilayer.« less

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ (US)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Research (ER) (US)
OSTI Identifier:
813606
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER14404
TRN: US200318%%149
DOE Contract Number:  
FG03-93ER14404
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 26 Aug 2003
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; BIOMASS; CALCIUM IONS; CARBON DIOXIDE; ELECTRON TRANSFER; ENERGY CONVERSION; HARVESTING; HYDROGEN IONS; LIPIDS; LIPOSOMES; OXYGEN; PHOTOSYNTHESIS; PROTONS; SOLAR ENERGY; SYNTHESIS; TRANSLOCATION; PHOTOINDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER; ENERGY TRANSFER; PROTON MOTIVE FORCE; LIPID BILAYER MEMBRANE

Citation Formats

Gust, Devens, Moore, Thomas A, and Moore, Ana L. Supramolecular Structures for Photochemical Energy Conversion. United States: N. p., 2003. Web. doi:10.2172/813606.
Gust, Devens, Moore, Thomas A, & Moore, Ana L. Supramolecular Structures for Photochemical Energy Conversion. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/813606
Gust, Devens, Moore, Thomas A, and Moore, Ana L. 2003. "Supramolecular Structures for Photochemical Energy Conversion". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/813606. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/813606.
@article{osti_813606,
title = {Supramolecular Structures for Photochemical Energy Conversion},
author = {Gust, Devens and Moore, Thomas A and Moore, Ana L},
abstractNote = {OAK B188 The goal of this project is to mimic the energy transduction processes by which photosynthetic organisms harvest sunlight and convert it to forms of energy that are more easily used and stored. The results may lead to new technologies for solar energy harvesting based on the natural photosynthetic process. They may also enrich our understanding and control of photosynthesis in living organisms, and lead to methods for increasing natural biomass production, carbon dioxide removal, and oxygen generation. In our work to date, we have learned how to make synthetic antenna and reaction center molecules that absorb light and undergo photoinduced electron transfer to generate long-lived, energetic charge-separated states. We have assembled a prototype system in which artificial reaction centers are inserted into liposomes (artificial cell-like constructs), where they carry out light-driven transmembrane translocation of hydrogen ions to generate proton motive force. By insertion of natural ATP synthase into the liposomal bilayer, this proton motive force has been used to power the synthesis of ATP. ATP is a natural biological energy currency. We are carrying out a systematic investigation of these artificial photosynthetic energy harvesting constructs in order to understand better how they operate. In addition, we are exploring strategies for reversing the direction of the light-powered proton pumping. Most recently, we have extended these studies to develop a light-powered transmembrane calcium ion pump that converts sunlight into energy stored as a calcium ion concentration gradient across a lipid bilayer.},
doi = {10.2172/813606},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/813606}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 2003},
month = {Tue Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 2003}
}