Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and cyanobacteria convert our most abundant energy source (solar radiation from the sun) into stored energy in the form of reduced carbon.  This process has supported the energy demands of the earth since the beginning of life, and continues to fuel our ever increasing demand. As the fossil fuels that were stored by this process become increasingly difficult to extract, we must find alternative means for energy generation. Here, we present research demonstrating how the nano-materials produced by plants, specifically Photosystem I, can be extracted and utilized to modify common electrode materials. The global abundance and exceptional properties of Photosystem I make this biomaterial an ideal candidate for use in solar energy conversion devices. Our research has demonstrated how we can incorporate these biohybrid electrodes into photovoltaic devices, photoelectrochemical cells, and hydrogen generation systems.AcknowledgementsWe gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National Science Foundation (DMR 0907619), the NSF EPSCoR (EPS 1004083), and the Scialog Program from the Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement.

Solar energy conversion using biohybrid electrodes based on nanomaterials derived from plants

246th National Meeting (2013)

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