Supramolecular Structures for Photochemical Energy Conversion
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.
- Research Organization:
- Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research (ER) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG03-93ER14404
- OSTI ID:
- 813606
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER14404; TRN: US200318%%149
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 26 Aug 2003
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
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