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Dalton Transactions

The international journal for inorganic, organometallic and bioinorganic chemistry



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Dalton Trans., 2009, 9979 - 9989, DOI: 10.1039/b912170f

Solar energy conversion in a photoelectrochemical biofuel cell

Michael Hambourger, Gerdenis Kodis, Michael D. Vaughn, Gary F. Moore, Devens Gust, Ana L. Moore and Thomas A. Moore

A photoelectrochemical biofuel cell has been developed which incorporates aspects of both an enzymatic biofuel cell and a dye-sensitized solar cell. Photon absorption at a porphyrin-sensitized n-type semiconductor electrode gives rise to a charge-separated state. Electrons and holes are shuttled to appropriate cathodic and anodic catalysts, respectively, allowing the production of electricity, or a reduced fuel, via the photochemical oxidation of a biomass-derived substrate. The operation of this device is reviewed. The use of alternate anodic redox mediators provides insight regarding loss mechanisms in the device. Design strategies for enhanced performance are discussed.

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