Discipline: Chemistry and Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: Chemistry (not Biochemistry)
Session: 4
Jade Stanley - Tuskegee University
Co-Author(s): Dr. David E. Cliffel- Vanderbilt University ; Dilek Dervishogullari- Vanderbilt University ; Christopher Stachurski-Vanderbilt University ; Kody Wolfe-Vanderbilt University
Formation of photoelectrochemical cells can provide an alternative energy source for different technological instruments. These devices can create a more environmentally friendly and sustainable power source. Photosynthesis is the biological process by which plants use visible light to produce chemical energy. Photosystem I (PSI) is one of the two main protein complexes involved in photosynthesis. The process of light absorption excites an electron and shuttles it from the P700 site to the iron cluster, FB. Due to this spatial and energetic transition of this electron, PSI is a prime candidate for implementation in photoelectrochemical cells. Biohybrid solid state and liquid solar cell devices were utilized to generate current from the light absorbed by the protein. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are flexible and inexpensive allotropes of carbon that have been used as conductive additives in solar cells. The objective of the experiment was to conjugate PSI proteins to carbon nanotubes and construct a solar-state device that enhances the photocurrent generated from PSI. The use of carbon nanotubes was expected to increase the surface area available for the PSI deposition, which in turn enhances photocurrent production. Devices were prepared using lightly p-doped silicon as a substrate and were tested using photochronoamperometry to measure the produced photocurrent. Devices with PSI conjugated onto carbon nanotubes demonstrated an increase in photocurrent. However, due to inconsistences in the deposition methods, there was a large range in device performance; many devices produced measurably lower currents than others. Future directions will be geared towards improving device fabrication methods or further optimization of the conjugation process.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): I would like to thank and acknowledge the National Science Foundation (Grant #: 1560414) for funding.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Albert Russell, jadeelise15@gmail.com
Role: For this research, I manufactured the devices, tested the devices using the method of photochronoamperometry, and analyzed data for each device mentioned in the abstract. I also chemically conjugated the photosystem I onto the carbon nanotubes using a chemical reaction.