Hybrid bioinorganic approach to solar-to-chemical conversion

Natural photosynthesis harnesses solar energy to convert CO₂ and water to value-added chemical products for sustaining life. We present a hybrid bioinorganic approach to solar-to-chemical conversion in which sustainable electrical and/or solar input drives production of hydrogen from water splitting...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2015-09, Vol.112 (37), p.11461-11466
Main Authors: Nichols, Eva M., Gallagher, Joseph J., Liu, Chong, Su, Yude, Resasco, Joaquin, Yu, Yi, Sun, Yujie, Yang, Peidong, Chang, Michelle C. Y., Chang, Christopher J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon Dioxide - chemistry
Catalysis
Electrolysis
Hydrogen - chemistry
Light
Materials Testing
Methane - chemistry
Methanosarcina barkeri - metabolism
Photosynthesis
Physical Sciences
Silicon - chemistry
Solar Energy
Sunlight
Temperature
Water - chemistry
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Summary:Natural photosynthesis harnesses solar energy to convert CO₂ and water to value-added chemical products for sustaining life. We present a hybrid bioinorganic approach to solar-to-chemical conversion in which sustainable electrical and/or solar input drives production of hydrogen from water splitting using biocompatible inorganic catalysts. The hydrogen is then used by living cells as a source of reducing equivalents for conversion of CO₂ to the value-added chemical product methane. Using platinum or an earth-abundant substitute, α-NiS, as biocompatible hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts andMethanosarcina barkerias a biocatalyst for CO₂ fixation, we demonstrate robust and efficient electrochemical CO₂ to CH₄ conversion at up to 86% overall Faradaic efficiency for ≥7 d. Introduction of indium phosphide photocathodes and titanium dioxide photoanodes affords a fully solar-driven system for methane generation from water and CO₂, establishing that compatible inorganic and biological components can synergistically couple light-harvesting and catalytic functions for solar-to-chemical conversion.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1508075112