Photo/Electro-active materials ftom photosynthetic microrganisms and pgreek-conjugated molecules

The Reaction Centers (RCs) of photosynthetic organisms are efficient billion-of-years optimized photoenzimes for conversion of absorbed light into charge separated states. Combination of such effective photoenzimes with ?-conjugated molecules appears an intriguing strategy to obtain a new generation of versatile bio-optoelectronic materials for applications ranging from photoconversion to photocatalysis and sensing. We present here the design and synthesis of hybrid bio-organic photosynthetic complexes by combination of the Reaction Center of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter Sphaeroides R26 with tailored molecular semiconductors. The organic molecules can act as antennas to extend the light harvesting capability of the Reaction Center, thus enhancing its photoconversion performances [1], but can be also used for charge transfer processes to external electron/hole acceptors. We have developed protocols to synthesize tailored bio-organic complexes, exhibiting optimized interactions of the functional ?-conjugated molecules with the photoenzime. We also demonstrate that such hybrid architectures can be incorporated into the membrane of tailored polymersomes, still maintaining their full functionality, and even be anchored on electrode surfaces. References [1] F. Milano, R.R. Tangorra, O. Hassan Omar, R. Ragni, A. Operamolla, A. Agostiano, G.M. Farinola, M. Trotta Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 51, 11019 (2012)