Significant progress in engineering biology for clean energy

Significant progress in engineering biology for clean energy
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Dec 18, 2024

The University of Liverpool has unveiled an innovative approach to sustainable hydrogen production through a new light-driven hybrid nanoreactor. The development combines biological efficiency with synthetic precision, offering a promising route to clean energy generation.

In a study published in ACS Catalysis, researchers tackled a longstanding challenge in solar fuel production by integrating natural photosynthetic principles with advanced artificial systems. While natural photosynthesis optimally absorbs and uses sunlight, artificial systems often face limitations in efficiency.

The breakthrough nanoreactor incorporates recombinant a-carboxysome shells - natural bacterial microcompartments - and a microporous organic semiconductor. The carboxysome shells safeguard oxygen-sensitive hydrogenase enzymes, ensuring sustained hydrogen production while mitigating deactivation.

Professor Luning Liu, Chair of Microbial Bioenergetics and Bioengineering at the University of Liverpool, collaborated with Professor Andy Cooper, Director of the University's Materials Innovation Factory. Together, their teams developed the microporous organic semiconductor, which serves as a light-harvesting antenna. The material absorbs visible light, transferring energy to the biological catalyst to drive hydrogen production.

"By mimicking the intricate structures and functions of natural photosynthesis, we've created a hybrid nanoreactor that combines the broad light absorption and exciton generation efficiency of synthetic materials with the catalytic power of biological enzymes. This synergy enables the production of hydrogen using light as the sole energy source," explained Professor Luning Liu.

The study addresses the reliance on costly precious metals like platinum, presenting a cost-effective alternative without compromising efficiency. This advancement could significantly contribute to sustainable hydrogen production and offers opportunities for broader biotechnological applications.

Professor Andy Cooper added: "It's been fantastic to collaborate across University faculties to deliver these results. The study's exciting findings open doors to fabricating biomimetic nanoreactors with wide-ranging applications in clean energy and enzymatic engineering, contributing to a carbon-neutral future."

Research Report:Light-Driven Hybrid Nanoreactor Harnessing the Synergy of Carboxysomes and Organic Frameworks for Efficient Hydrogen Production