Hybrid photoconverters from molecular dyes and photosynthetic bacteria

Building artificial photosynthetic molecular machines capable of harvesting solar light for photocatalysis and energy production have attracted considerable interest over the last years. A possible approach to such systems consists in the assembly of hybrid architectures combining a synthetically tailored antenna for effective light harvesting with a natural photoconverter optimized by billion years of evolution. We have designed and synthesized hybrid complexes combining the photosynthetic reaction center (RC) of the bacterium Rhodobacter Sphaeroides R26 with tailored p-conjugated fluorophores which can act as antennas to extend the light harvesting capability of the natural RC in a wavelength range where the unmodified biological enzyme does not efficiently absorb [1]. The bio conjugation protocol developed enables to selectively functionalize the RC protein scaffold for efficient energy transfer. The resulting hybrid architectures outperform the natural system in light harvesting and conversion ability and in the photocatalytic reaction rate. Finally, the photosynthetic hybrids have been anchored on graphene layers or embedded into polymersomes aiming to integration of the photoactive units into electronic devices. References 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)