Semiconductor-metal nanoparticle hybrids with natural and artificial proton pump for hydrogen production

US10220378B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC · US

Inventors

• Elena A. Rozhkova · Lemont, US
• Peng Wang · Beijing, CN
• Richard D. Schaller · Santa Fe, US
• Nada Dimitrijevic · Lemont, US
• Tijana Rajh · Naperville, US
• Shankar Balasubramanian · Cambridge, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 1, 2017
• Grant date: Mar 5, 2019
• Expiry date: Jun 1, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an efficient entirely man-made nanobio hybrid fabricated through cell-free expression of transmembrane proton pump followed by assembly of the synthetic protein architecture with semiconductor nanoparticles for photocatalytic H2 evolution. The system produces H2 at a turnover rate of 240 μmol of H2 (μmol protein)−1 h−1 under green and 17.74 mmol of H2 (μmol protein)−1 h−1 under white light at ambient conditions, in water at neutral pH with methanol as a sacrificial electron donor. Robsutness and flexibility of this approach allows for systemic manipulation at nanoparticle-bio interface toward directed evolution of energy materials and devices.