Bio-sensitized solar cells (BSSC)
The present invention provides a wet or dry bio-sensitized photoelectric conversion device (photodetector or photovoltaic) comprising: a stabilized biologically-derived sensitizer, such as a stablilized photosystem I (PS-I), deposited on nanowires, semiconductor material, electrodes and a support. The nanowires provide a greater surface area of the light absorption layer for better energy conversion efficiency and are chosen such as to complement the absorption spectrum of the sensitizer and protect the sensitizer from photobleaching.
1. A bio sensitized photoelectric conversion device comprising: a stabilized protein-based sensitizer deposited on nanowires, semiconductor material, a cathode, an anode and a support wherein the protein-based sensitizer comprises photosystem I or photosystem II.
2. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein the stabilized protein-based sensitizer is photosystem I (PS-I) stabilized with surfactant peptides.
3. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2 , wherein the surfactant peptides have a Formula selected from the group consisting of:
Sequence (N → C)
Formula
(φ) m (+) n
1
(+) n (φ) m
2
(φ) m (−) n
3
(−) n (φ) m
4
(−) n (φ) m (−) n
5
(+) n (φ) m (+) n
6
(φ) m (−)n (φ) m
7
(φ) m (+)n (φ) m
8
(+) n (φ) m (−) n
9
(−) n (φ) m (+) n
10
wherein:
(Φ) represents independently for each occurrence a natural or non-natural amino acid comprising a hydrophobic sidechain;
(+) represents independently for each occurrence a natural or non-natural amino acid comprising a sidechain that is cationic at physiological pH;
(−) represents independently for each occurrence a natural or non-natural amino acid comprising a sidechain that is anionic at physiological pH;
wherein the terminal amino acids are optionally substituted;
m for each occurrence represents an integer greater than or equal to 5; and
n for each occurrence represents an integer greater than or equal to 1.
4. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2 , wherein the surfactant peptide is selected from the group consisting of
AAAAAAD,
(SEQ ID NO.1)
VVVVVVD,
(SEQ ID NO.2)
AAAAAADD,
(SEQ ID NO.3)
VVVVVVDD,
(SEQ ID NO.4)
LLLLLLDD,
(SEQ ID NO.5)
KKIIIIII,
(SEQ ID NO.6)
KKLLLLLL,
(SEQ ID NO.7)
KKAAAAAAA,
(SEQ ID NO.8)
KKVVVVVV,
(SEQ ID NO.9)
DDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAA,
(SEQ ID NO.10)
AAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDD,
(SEQ ID NO.11)
EEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAA,
(SEQ ID NO.12)
AAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEE,
(SEQ ID NO.13)
DDDDDDDDDDVVVVVVVVVV,
(SEQ ID NO.14)
VVVVVVVVVVDDDDDDDDDD,
(SEQ ID NO.15)
DDDDDDDDDDPPPPPPPPPP,
(SEQ ID NO.16)
PPPPPPPPPPDDDDDDDDDD,
(SEQ ID NO.17)
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH,
(SEQ ID NO.18)
HHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAA,
(SEQ ID NO.19)
KKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAA,
(SEQ ID NO.20)
AAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKK,
(SEQ ID NO.21)
RRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAA,
(SEQ ID NO.22)
AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR,
(SEQ ID NO.23)
DDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDD,
(SEQ ID NO.24)
EEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEE,
(SEQ ID NO.25)
DDDDDDDDDDVVVVVVVVVVDDDDDDDDDD,
(SEQ ID NO.26)
DDDDDDDDDDPPPPPPPPPPDDDDDDDDDD,
(SEQ ID NO.27)
HHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH,
(SEQ ID NO.28)
KKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKK,
(SEQ ID NO.29)
RRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR,
(SEQ ID NO.30)
AAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAA,
(SEQ ID NO.31)
AAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAA,
(SEQ ID NO.32)
VVVVVVVVVVDDDDDDDDDDVVVVVVVVVV,
(SEQ ID NO.33)
PPPPPPPPPPDDDDDDDDDDPPPPPPPPPP,
(SEQ ID NO.34)
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAA,
(SEQ ID NO.35)
AAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAA,
(SEQ ID NO.36)
AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAA,
(SEQ ID NO.37)
KKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDD,
(SEQ ID NO.38)
KKKKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEE,
(SEQ ID NO.39)
RRRRRRRRRRVVVVVVVVVVDDDDDDDDDD,
(SEQ ID NO.40)
KKKKKKKKKKPPPPPPPPPPDDDDDDDDDD,
(SEQ ID NO.41)
and
HHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEE.
(SEQ ID NO.42).
5. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2 , wherein the surfactant peptide is AAAAAAK (SEQ ID NO. 47).
6. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 2 , wherein the said nanowires are selected from ZnO nanowires.
7. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein the semiconductor material is selected from ITO, Alq3, Al 2 O 3 , and C 60 .
8. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein the cathode and anode comprise Au and Ag, respectively.
9. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 1 , wherein the support is a glass slide.
10. The photoelectric conversion device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilized protein-based sensitizer comprises a ZnO-binding moiety and the nanowires comprise ZnO.
11. The photoelectric conversion device of claim 1 , wherein the stabilized biologically protein-based sensitizer comprises a fusion protein comprising a ZnO-binding moiety attached to a biologically-derived sensitizer and the nanowires comprise ZnO.
12. The photoelectric conversion device of claim 2 , wherein the stabilized biologically protein-based sensitizer comprises a fusion protein comprising a ZnO-binding moiety attached to a biologically-derived sensitizer and the nanowires comprise ZnO wherein the photosystem is oriented to deposit electrons to the ZnO nanowire.
13. The photoelectric conversion device of claim 2 , wherein the stabilized protein-based sensitizer is isolated from plant tissue.
14. The photoelectric conversion device of claim 2 , wherein the stabilized protein-based sensitizer is isolated from algae.
15. The photoelectric conversion device of claim 2 , wherein the stabilized protein-based sensitizer is dry.
16. The photoelectric conversion device according to claim 3 wherein:
(Φ) is alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine or proline;
(+) is histidine, lysine or arginine; or
(−) is aspartic acid or glutamic acid.