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A Biogenic Photovoltaic Material
Author(s) -
Srivastava Sarvesh Kumar,
Piwek Przemyslaw,
Ayakar Sonal R.,
Bonakdarpour Arman,
Wilkinson David P.,
Yadav Vikramaditya G.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201800729
Subject(s) - photovoltaic system , materials science , nanotechnology , ecology , biology
A proof‐of‐concept for the fabrication of genetically customizable biogenic materials for photovoltaic applications is presented. E. coli is first genetically engineered to heterologously express the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway from plants. This modification yields a strain that overproduces the photoactive pigment lycopene. The pigment‐producing cells are then coated with TiO 2 nanoparticles via a tryptophan‐mediated supramolecular interface, and subsequent incorporation of the resulting biogenic material (cells@TiO 2 ) as an anode in an I − /I 3 − ‐based dye‐sensitized solar cell yields an excellent photovoltaic (PV) response. This work lays strong foundations for the development of bio‐PV materials and next‐generation organic optoelectronics that are green, inexpensive, and easy to manufacture.