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Riboflavin as a Bioorganic Solar Fuel: Photoredox Chemistry Rationalized and Accelerated in a Miniaturized Flow Photoreactor
Author(s) -
Lin Lyangya,
Xie Kaihui,
Beaucamp Mathieu,
Job Nathalie,
Penhoat Maël
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemphotochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2367-0932
DOI - 10.1002/cptc.201800236
Subject(s) - renewable energy , chemistry , solar energy , fossil fuel , solar cell , flavin group , nanotechnology , photochemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , electrical engineering , engineering , enzyme
With the depletion of fossil‐fuel‐based energies and the corresponding growing environmental concerns, the design of new strategies to store renewable solar energy is highly attractive. Herein, we studied a biomimetic organic solar fuel (Riboflavin – Vitamin B2) to photochemically store solar light into its amphoteric form (leucodeuteroflavin), working as a charge carrier towards a flow fuel cell. We demonstrate that miniaturization of the photoreactor permits significant reduction of the full time solar charge. Nevertheless, due to inherent leucodeuteroflavin (LDH 2 ) degradation into lumichrome (LC), the maximum system charge (at pH=5) is limited to 13 % corresponding to a maximum power density of 0.11 mW cm −2 after 90 min. In comparison with other described photoredox electroactive systems (e. g. polyoxometalates, quinones), organic solar fuels based on flavins appear particularly promising and their chemical structure should be optimized to fit both photostability and economical requirements. In any case, this study enables a clear rationalization and quantification of the mechanism of riboflavin degradation under anaerobic conditions, which has been the topic of many discussions during the last century, and opens the way towards the development of a new generation of low‐cost renewable organic solar fuels.