ABSTRACT
Searching for advanced nano-bio hybrid photocatalyst with high activity and durability to harvest solar energy is extremely desirable but it still remains a significant challenge. Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) functions as a photoinduced proton pump by converting solar energy into proton gradient across the membrane. As well as BR has the capacity to survive under strenuous circumstances, including exposure to light and oxygen, temperatures, a broad range of pH values and high ionic circumstances. Due to unique optoelectronic properties, BR became a promising material for nano-bio hybrid photocatalyst. In this chapter, we summarized the photovoltaic background before the BR becomes a topic of interest and summarized the structural characteristics and photocycle of BR and we give an overview of the recent progress of utilizing the BR that has been designed for the environmentally friendly bio-inspired photo-energy conversion schemes. The interfacing of BR with various nanostructures including colloidal nanoparticles and nanoparticulate thin films has developed novel functional materials. BR-based solar energy conversion devices, such as photoelectrochemical cells and biomolecule-sensitized solar cells are cost-effective, green and quite efficient but they are still in the evolution stage. This hybrid bio-nanomaterials with outstanding chemical, physical and biological properties suggest the potential to develop new bio-photonic devices. Hence, in order to achieve more power conversion efficiency, further studies are required to work on this platform.
