Recent Progress in Designing Nanomaterial Biohybrids for Artificial Photosynthesis
In natural photosynthesis, solar energy is utilized to convert water and CO<sub>2</sub> into energy-rich compounds. However, in practice, the maximum quantum efficiency of natural photosynthesis is limited to 6.0%. Conversely, artificial photosynthesis (AP) systems utilize solar energy t...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Sampathkumar Jeevanandham Subramaniyan Ramasundaram Natarajan Vijay Tae Hwan Oh Subramanian Tamil Selvan |
| author_facet | Sampathkumar Jeevanandham Subramaniyan Ramasundaram Natarajan Vijay Tae Hwan Oh Subramanian Tamil Selvan |
| author_sort | Sampathkumar Jeevanandham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In natural photosynthesis, solar energy is utilized to convert water and CO<sub>2</sub> into energy-rich compounds. However, in practice, the maximum quantum efficiency of natural photosynthesis is limited to 6.0%. Conversely, artificial photosynthesis (AP) systems utilize solar energy to convert CO<sub>2</sub> into biosynthetic solar fuels and value-added chemicals. To mimic natural photosystems, AP integrates light-harvesting chemical catalysts with the enzyme-mediated biological catalysis occurring in microorganisms. Similar to solar energy-based optoelectronic power sources, AP has also been recognized as a promising option for reducing carbon emissions generated by the fossil fuel-based power sector. Typical quantum efficiency of AP is 5–10%; in some cases, it exceeds 20%. Recent advancements have focused on nanomaterial biohybrids (NBHs), combining nanomaterial-based photocatalysts/photosensitizers with microorganisms/enzymes for enhanced oxidation/reduction reactions. The synergistic interaction between nanomaterials and microorganisms, facilitated by their comparable size and tunable surface properties, enables improved solar energy absorption, charge separation, and conversion. NBHs offer a versatile platform for sustainable solar energy harvesting and conversion, overcoming the limitations of natural and fully abiotic photosynthesis systems. This review highlights recent breakthroughs in diverse platforms of sunlight and visible light-driven NBH-based AP systems for CO<sub>2</sub> fixation, H<sub>2</sub> production, water splitting, and value-added chemical synthesis. The synthesis strategies, operating mechanisms, and challenges are highlighted. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eb1e1473d0b747fd95c3ec861fcebbae |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj-art-eb1e1473d0b747fd95c3ec861fcebbae2025-08-20T03:48:01ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-05-01151073010.3390/nano15100730Recent Progress in Designing Nanomaterial Biohybrids for Artificial PhotosynthesisSampathkumar Jeevanandham0Subramaniyan Ramasundaram1Natarajan Vijay2Tae Hwan Oh3Subramanian Tamil Selvan4Molecular Science and Engineering Laboratory, Amity Institute of Click Chemistry Research and Studies, Amity University, Noida 201313, IndiaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of KoreaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of KoreaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of KoreaAzion Global Pte. Ltd., 622 Bukit Batok Central, #11-504, Singapore 650622, SingaporeIn natural photosynthesis, solar energy is utilized to convert water and CO<sub>2</sub> into energy-rich compounds. However, in practice, the maximum quantum efficiency of natural photosynthesis is limited to 6.0%. Conversely, artificial photosynthesis (AP) systems utilize solar energy to convert CO<sub>2</sub> into biosynthetic solar fuels and value-added chemicals. To mimic natural photosystems, AP integrates light-harvesting chemical catalysts with the enzyme-mediated biological catalysis occurring in microorganisms. Similar to solar energy-based optoelectronic power sources, AP has also been recognized as a promising option for reducing carbon emissions generated by the fossil fuel-based power sector. Typical quantum efficiency of AP is 5–10%; in some cases, it exceeds 20%. Recent advancements have focused on nanomaterial biohybrids (NBHs), combining nanomaterial-based photocatalysts/photosensitizers with microorganisms/enzymes for enhanced oxidation/reduction reactions. The synergistic interaction between nanomaterials and microorganisms, facilitated by their comparable size and tunable surface properties, enables improved solar energy absorption, charge separation, and conversion. NBHs offer a versatile platform for sustainable solar energy harvesting and conversion, overcoming the limitations of natural and fully abiotic photosynthesis systems. This review highlights recent breakthroughs in diverse platforms of sunlight and visible light-driven NBH-based AP systems for CO<sub>2</sub> fixation, H<sub>2</sub> production, water splitting, and value-added chemical synthesis. The synthesis strategies, operating mechanisms, and challenges are highlighted.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/10/730artificial photosynthesisnanomaterial biohybridsphotocatalystssolar energy conversionCO<sub>2</sub> fixation |
| spellingShingle | Sampathkumar Jeevanandham Subramaniyan Ramasundaram Natarajan Vijay Tae Hwan Oh Subramanian Tamil Selvan Recent Progress in Designing Nanomaterial Biohybrids for Artificial Photosynthesis Nanomaterials artificial photosynthesis nanomaterial biohybrids photocatalysts solar energy conversion CO<sub>2</sub> fixation |
| title | Recent Progress in Designing Nanomaterial Biohybrids for Artificial Photosynthesis |
| title_full | Recent Progress in Designing Nanomaterial Biohybrids for Artificial Photosynthesis |
| title_fullStr | Recent Progress in Designing Nanomaterial Biohybrids for Artificial Photosynthesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Progress in Designing Nanomaterial Biohybrids for Artificial Photosynthesis |
| title_short | Recent Progress in Designing Nanomaterial Biohybrids for Artificial Photosynthesis |
| title_sort | recent progress in designing nanomaterial biohybrids for artificial photosynthesis |
| topic | artificial photosynthesis nanomaterial biohybrids photocatalysts solar energy conversion CO<sub>2</sub> fixation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/10/730 |
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