Improved performance of a thylakoid bio-solar cell by incorporation of carbon quantum dots

Abstract

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were incorporated into thylakoid bioanodes capable of direct photobioelectrocatalysis in order to increase the photocurrent generation. More thylakoids are in contact with the increased surface area which allows for greater direct electron transfer (DET). Additionally, the fluorescent quantum dots redshift the light which allows for the thylakoid/CQD electrodes to use more of the solar spectrum, increasing the photocurrent. The current density was more than twice as large when CQDs were included in a thylakoid bio-solar cell. © 2013 The Electrochemical Society.