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Published on: June 28, 2017
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Structurally modified bacteriorhodopsin as an efficient bio-sensitizer for solar cell applications.
T C Sabari Girisun1, C Jeganathan2, N Pavithra3
1Nanophotonics Laboratory, School of Physics, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, 620024, India. sabarigirisun@bdu.ac.in.
European Biophysics Journal : EBJ
|September 5, 2018
Summary
Structurally modifying bacteriorhodopsin (BR) with Triton X-100 surfactant enhances its performance in bio-sensitized solar cells (BSSCs). This modification improves electron lifetime and photovoltaic parameters, suggesting a lower-cost alternative to native BR for BSSC applications.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) is a light-driven proton pump with potential applications in bio-sensitized solar cells (BSSCs).
- Structural modifications of BR can alter its optical and electrical properties, potentially improving BSSC performance.
- Surfactant treatment offers a simple method for structurally modifying BR.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural modification of bacteriorhodopsin (BR) using different surfactants: Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), and Triton X-100 (TX-100).
- To evaluate the impact of these structural modifications on the photovoltaic performance of BR-sensitized bio-sensitized solar cells (BSSCs).
- To explore the potential of TX-100 treated BR as a cost-effective alternative to native BR in BSSCs.
Main Methods:
- Structural modification of BR using cationic (CTAB), anionic (SDS), and nonionic (TX-100) surfactants.
- Characterization of structural changes using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy.
- Fabrication and photovoltaic performance measurement of BSSCs using native and structurally modified BR as sensitizers.
Main Results:
- Surfactant treatment induced distinct spectral shifts in BR: hyperchromic (CTAB), bathochromic (SDS), and hypsochromic (TX-100), indicating structural alterations.
- TX-100 treated BR resulted in monomerization, preserving the carboxyl terminus for enhanced anchoring to the BSSC.
- TX-100 treated BR-sensitized BSSCs exhibited maximum short-circuit photocurrent (0.93 mA cm⁻²) and photoelectric conversion efficiency (0.47%), with significantly improved electron lifetime (124 ms) and favorable diode parameters compared to native BR.
Conclusions:
- Triton X-100 treatment effectively monomerizes bacteriorhodopsin, preserving its carboxyl terminus and enhancing its performance as a sensitizer in bio-sensitized solar cells.
- Structurally modified BR, particularly TX-100 treated BR, demonstrates superior photovoltaic properties, including increased photocurrent and electron lifetime.
- Monomerized BR-sensitized BSSCs offer a promising, potentially lower-cost alternative to native BR, paving the way for more economical bio-sensitized solar cell manufacturing.
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