Back to Search Start Over

PEDOT-Carbon Nanotube Counter Electrodes and Bipyridine Cobalt (II/III) Mediators as Universally Compatible Components in Bio-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Photosystem I and Bacteriorhodopsin

Authors :
Alexandra H. Teodor
Stephanie Monge
Dariana Aguilar
Alexandra Tames
Roger Nunez
Elaine Gonzalez
Juan J. Montero Rodríguez
Jesse J. Bergkamp
Ricardo Starbird
Venkatesan Renugopalakrishnan
Barry D. Bruce
Claudia Villarreal
Source :
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 23, Iss 7, p 3865 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

In nature, solar energy is captured by different types of light harvesting protein–pigment complexes. Two of these photoactivatable proteins are bacteriorhodopsin (bR), which utilizes a retinal moiety to function as a proton pump, and photosystem I (PSI), which uses a chlorophyll antenna to catalyze unidirectional electron transfer. Both PSI and bR are well characterized biochemically and have been integrated into solar photovoltaic (PV) devices built from sustainable materials. Both PSI and bR are some of the best performing photosensitizers in the bio-sensitized PV field, yet relatively little attention has been devoted to the development of more sustainable, biocompatible alternative counter electrodes and electrolytes for bio-sensitized solar cells. Careful selection of the electrolyte and counter electrode components is critical to designing bio-sensitized solar cells with more sustainable materials and improved device performance. This work explores the use of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PEDOT/CNT) as counter electrodes and aqueous-soluble bipyridine cobaltII/III complexes as direct redox mediators for both PSI and bR devices. We report a unique counter electrode and redox mediator system that can perform remarkably well for both bio-photosensitizers that have independently evolved over millions of years. The compatibility of disparate proteins with common mediators and counter electrodes may further the improvement of bio-sensitized PV design in a way that is more universally biocompatible for device outputs and longevity.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14220067 and 16616596
Volume :
23
Issue :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.122b28a2b4a943f7acdd68fef03a6f17
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23073865