A biohybrid solar cell is a solar cell made using a combination of organic matter (photosystem I) and inorganic matter. Biohybrid solar cells have been made by a team of researchers at Vanderbilt University.[1] The team used the photosystem I (a photoactive protein complex located in the thylakoid membrane) to recreate the natural process of photosynthesis to obtain a greater efficiency in solar energy conversion. These biohybrid solar cells are a new type of renewable energy.[2][3]
Multiple layers of photosystem I gather photonic energy, convert it into chemical energy and create a current that goes through the cell. The cell itself consists of many of the same non-organic materials that are found in other solar cells with the exception of the injected photosystem I complexes which are introduced and gathered for several days in the gold layer. After days the photosystem I are made visible and appear as a thin green film. It is this thin film that helps and improves the energy conversion. The biohybrid cell however, is still in the research phase.
Research
The team from Vanderbilt University began conducting research on the photosynthesis when they began to see and focus on the photosystem I protein. After seeing how widely available and efficient the protein was at solar conversion they began to look to incorporate and improve different technologies. The team used spinach as their source for the photosystem I. Thylakoid membranes were isolated and then went into a purification process to separate the photosystem I from the thylakoid membrane. Their research resulted in a greatly improved electric current (1000 times greater) compared to those previous made by other solar cells. The team has been gathering a group of undergraduate engineers to help build the first prototype of the biohybrid solar cell. The team has also come up with a second design of the protein complex the photosystem II.
Photovoltaic vs biohybrid
Comparing traditional photovoltaic cells and biohybrid solar cells is difficult. Both systems perform the same task converting into electricity the energy captured from the sun's rays. However, the method whereby each is done is completely different. The end result is also different: photovoltaic cells produce electric current whereas biomass or chemical fuels are produced in biohybrid cells because photosynthesis is involved in the process.[4]
Advantages
The greatest advantage the biohybrid solar cell has is the way it converts solar energy to electricity with almost 100% percent efficiency. This means that little to no power is lost through the conversion of chemical to electrical power. These numbers are great compared to only a 40% efficiency for traditional solar cells. Cost is also a lot less for producing biohybrids because extracting the protein from spinach and other plants is cheaper compared to the cost of metals needed to produce other solar cells.
Disadvantages
While the efficiency of the biohybrid cells are much greater they also have many disadvantages. In many cases some solar cells have some advantages over a biohybrid solar cell. For one, traditional solar cells produce more power than those currently being achieved by biohybrid cells. The lifespan of biohybrid solar cells is also really short, lasting from a few weeks to nine months. The durability of the cells prove to be an issue, compared to current solar cells can work for many years. [5][6]
^Ciesielskia, Peter N; Frederick M. Hijazib; Amanda M. Scott; Christopher J. Faulkner; Lisa Beard; Kevin Emmett; Sandra J. Rosenthal; David Cliffel; G. Kane Jennings (May 2010). "photosystem I- Based biohybrid phtoelectrochemical cells". Bioresource Technology. 101 (9): 3047–3053. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2009.12.045. PMID 20064713.
^Yehezkeli, Omer; Ran Tel-Vered; Julian Wasserman; Alexander Trifonov; Dorit Michaeli; Rachel Nechushtai; Itamar Willner (13 March 2012). "Integrated photosytem II-Based photoelectrochemical cells". Nature Communications. 3: 742. doi:10.1038/ncomms1741. PMID 22415833.
^blankenship, Robert E. (13 May 2011). "Comparing Photosynthetic and Photovoltaic Efficiencies and Recognizing the Potential for Improvement". Science. 332 (6031): 805–809. Bibcode:2011Sci...332..805B. doi:10.1126/science.1200165. PMID 21566184. S2CID 22798697.
^Biohybrid solar cells made by a team of researchers at Vanderbilt University
biohybrid, solar, cell, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, february, 2015, learn, when, remove, this, template, m. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message A biohybrid solar cell is a solar cell made using a combination of organic matter photosystem I and inorganic matter Biohybrid solar cells have been made by a team of researchers at Vanderbilt University 1 The team used the photosystem I a photoactive protein complex located in the thylakoid membrane to recreate the natural process of photosynthesis to obtain a greater efficiency in solar energy conversion These biohybrid solar cells are a new type of renewable energy 2 3 Contents 1 Description 2 Research 3 Photovoltaic vs biohybrid 4 Advantages 5 Disadvantages 6 ReferencesDescription EditMultiple layers of photosystem I gather photonic energy convert it into chemical energy and create a current that goes through the cell The cell itself consists of many of the same non organic materials that are found in other solar cells with the exception of the injected photosystem I complexes which are introduced and gathered for several days in the gold layer After days the photosystem I are made visible and appear as a thin green film It is this thin film that helps and improves the energy conversion The biohybrid cell however is still in the research phase Research EditThe team from Vanderbilt University began conducting research on the photosynthesis when they began to see and focus on the photosystem I protein After seeing how widely available and efficient the protein was at solar conversion they began to look to incorporate and improve different technologies The team used spinach as their source for the photosystem I Thylakoid membranes were isolated and then went into a purification process to separate the photosystem I from the thylakoid membrane Their research resulted in a greatly improved electric current 1000 times greater compared to those previous made by other solar cells The team has been gathering a group of undergraduate engineers to help build the first prototype of the biohybrid solar cell The team has also come up with a second design of the protein complex the photosystem II Photovoltaic vs biohybrid EditComparing traditional photovoltaic cells and biohybrid solar cells is difficult Both systems perform the same task converting into electricity the energy captured from the sun s rays However the method whereby each is done is completely different The end result is also different photovoltaic cells produce electric current whereas biomass or chemical fuels are produced in biohybrid cells because photosynthesis is involved in the process 4 Advantages EditThe greatest advantage the biohybrid solar cell has is the way it converts solar energy to electricity with almost 100 percent efficiency This means that little to no power is lost through the conversion of chemical to electrical power These numbers are great compared to only a 40 efficiency for traditional solar cells Cost is also a lot less for producing biohybrids because extracting the protein from spinach and other plants is cheaper compared to the cost of metals needed to produce other solar cells Disadvantages EditWhile the efficiency of the biohybrid cells are much greater they also have many disadvantages In many cases some solar cells have some advantages over a biohybrid solar cell For one traditional solar cells produce more power than those currently being achieved by biohybrid cells The lifespan of biohybrid solar cells is also really short lasting from a few weeks to nine months The durability of the cells prove to be an issue compared to current solar cells can work for many years 5 6 References Edit Spinach power gets a major boost Ciesielskia Peter N Frederick M Hijazib Amanda M Scott Christopher J Faulkner Lisa Beard Kevin Emmett Sandra J Rosenthal David Cliffel G Kane Jennings May 2010 photosystem I Based biohybrid phtoelectrochemical cells Bioresource Technology 101 9 3047 3053 doi 10 1016 j biortech 2009 12 045 PMID 20064713 Yehezkeli Omer Ran Tel Vered Julian Wasserman Alexander Trifonov Dorit Michaeli Rachel Nechushtai Itamar Willner 13 March 2012 Integrated photosytem II Based photoelectrochemical cells Nature Communications 3 742 doi 10 1038 ncomms1741 PMID 22415833 blankenship Robert E 13 May 2011 Comparing Photosynthetic and Photovoltaic Efficiencies and Recognizing the Potential for Improvement Science 332 6031 805 809 Bibcode 2011Sci 332 805B doi 10 1126 science 1200165 PMID 21566184 S2CID 22798697 Biohybrid solar cells made by a team of researchers at Vanderbilt University biohybrid solar cell reference 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Biohybrid solar cell amp oldid 1132652238, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
