A hierarchical self-assembly photocatalytic system (left) mimics the natural photosynthesis device of a purple bacteria, called Rhodobacter sphaeroides (right), accomplishing 15% solar-to-fuel effectiveness when transforming co2 into methane. Credit: (left) Professor Ye Ruquans research study group/ City University of Hong Kong and (right) Biophysical Journal, 99:67 -75, 2010
In the newest study, the joint-research team from CityU, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Jiangsu University, and the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences got rid of these troubles by utilizing a supramolecular assembly method to produce an artificial photosynthetic system. It simulates the structure of a purple germss light-harvesting chromatophores (i.e. cells that consist of pigment), which are really efficient at moving energy from the sun.
The core of the new synthetic photosynthetic system is a highly stable artificial nanomicelle– a sort of polymer that can self-assemble in water, with both a water-loving (hydrophilic) and a water-fearing (hydrophobic) end. The nanomicelles hydrophilic head functions as a photosensitizer to take in sunlight, and its hydrophobic tail acts as an inducer for self-assembly.
The nanomicelles self-assemble due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the water particles and the tails when it is placed in water. Adding a cobalt catalyst results in photocatalytic hydrogen production and co2 decrease, leading to the production of hydrogen and methane.
Professor Ye Ruquan (front row, center), Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and his research team at City University of Hong Kong Credit: City University of Hong Kong
Using innovative imaging methods and ultrafast spectroscopy, the team unveiled the atomic functions of the innovative photosensitizer. They discovered that the unique structure of the nanomicelles hydrophilic head, together with the hydrogen bonding between water molecules and the nanomicelles tail, make it a stable, water-compatible synthetic photosensitizer, fixing the traditional instability and water-incompatibility issue of synthetic photosynthesis. The electrostatic interaction in between the cobalt and the photosensitizer catalyst, and the strong light-harvesting antenna result of the nanomicelle improved the photocatalytic process.
In the experiment, the team found that the methane production rate was more than 13,000 μmol h − 1 g − 1, with a quantum yield of 5.6% over 24 hours. It also achieved a highly effective solar-to-fuel efficiency rate of 15%, surpassing natural photosynthesis.
Most significantly, the new artificial photocatalytic system is sustainable and economically practical, as it doesnt rely on pricey rare-earth elements. “The hierarchical self-assembly of the system offers an appealing bottom-up technique to create a precisely managed, high-performance synthetic photocatalytic system based on low-cost, Earth-abundant components, like zinc and cobalt porphyrin complexes,” stated Professor Ye.
Formation of a hydrogen-bond improved nanomicelle and its hydrogen production and carbon dioxide reduction under solar power. Credit: Professor Ye Ruquans research group/ City University of Hong Kong.
Teacher Ye said he believes the most recent discovery will benefit and inspire the rational design of future photocatalytic systems for carbon dioxide conversion and reduction using solar power, adding to the objective of carbon neutrality.
Recommendation: “Artificial round chromatophore nanomicelles for selective CO2 decrease in water” by Junlai Yu, Libei Huang, Qingxuan Tang, Shang-Bo Yu, Qiao-Yan Qi, Jiangshan Zhang, Danying Ma, Yifei Lei, Jianjun Su, Yun Song, Jean-Charles Eloi, Robert L. Harniman, Ufuk Borucu, Long Zhang, Minghui Zhu, Feng Tian, Lili Du, David Lee Phillips, Ian Manners, Ruquan Ye and Jia Tian, 18 May 2023, Nature Catalysis.DOI: 10.1038/ s41929-023-00962-z.
The very first authors are Dr. Yu Junlai, from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, and Dr. Huang Libei, CityU Ph.D. The corresponding authors are Professor Ye, Professor David Lee Philips, from HKU, Professor Du Lili, from Jiangsu University, and Professor Tian Jia, from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry.
The research study was supported by numerous financing sources, consisting of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Fund, the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program, and the Hong Kong Research Grant Council.
Researchers have established an effective synthetic photosynthetic system that mimics a natural chloroplast, transforming co2 in water into methane using light. This advancement could contribute to carbon neutrality by developing carbon-neutral fuel, overcoming previous difficulties with photosensitizer stability and selectivity in water.
A joint research team from the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and partners recently established a stable artificial photocatalytic system that is more effective than natural photosynthesis. The freshly established system, which replicates a natural chloroplast, can changing co2 in water into methane, a beneficial fuel, really efficiently utilizing light. This represents a substantial development with prospective contributions towards achieving carbon neutrality.
For context, photosynthesis is the mechanism through which chloroplasts in plants and certain organisms use water, sunshine, and carbon dioxide to produce food or energy. Over the past numerous decades, many scientists have ventured to produce synthetic photosynthesis procedures with the goal of converting co2 into carbon-neutral fuel.
” However, it is hard to transform co2 in water since numerous photosensitizers or drivers break down in water,” explained Professor Ye Ruquan, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at CityU, among the leaders of the joint study. “Although artificial photocatalytic cycles have been shown to run with greater intrinsic effectiveness, the low selectivity and stability in water for co2 decrease have hampered their practical applications.”
A joint research study group from the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and collaborators recently established a steady synthetic photocatalytic system that is more efficient than natural photosynthesis. The recently developed system, which replicates a natural chloroplast, is capable of transforming carbon dioxide in water into methane, a helpful fuel, very efficiently utilizing light. This represents a substantial advancement with prospective contributions toward attaining carbon neutrality.
They discovered that the unique structure of the nanomicelles hydrophilic head, along with the hydrogen bonding between water particles and the nanomicelles tail, make it a stable, water-compatible artificial photosensitizer, fixing the standard instability and water-incompatibility issue of synthetic photosynthesis. The electrostatic interaction in between the photosensitizer and the cobalt driver, and the strong light-harvesting antenna impact of the nanomicelle improved the photocatalytic procedure.