Increase the organic photocells (bacteriorhodopsin) efficiency by using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) techniques and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2)
Volume 7, Issue 2, Summer 2016, Pages 149-157
https://doi.org/10.52547/JCT.7.2.149
S Badparva, B Dousti, E Badparva, A Haji Amraei, A Dehghaninejad
Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to convert lamp and solar energy into electrical energy with bacteriorhodopsin protein monolayer, evaluate examined compounds (TiO2, FTO, Br) to increase the biological photocells efficiency, photocells building feasibility for use in architecture, military and biological photocells production.
Material and Methods: Titanium dioxide nano-particles were placed on the surface of a fluorine tin oxide (FTO) using Belding method. Bacteriorhodopsin (Br) monolayer was prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique and photo anodes were made. Then the FTO glass was covered with an H2PtCl6 solution drop (2 mg Pt in 1 ml EtOH), and cathode was prepared. Photo anodes electrode (FTO/TiO2/Br) and opposite electrode (cathode) (FTO/Pt) were placed as a sandwich.
Results: Light dependent pH changes, demonstrated bacteriorhodopsin activity. The created monolayer photocells power was 0.7μA and their voltage was 190 mV, which was different from the accumulated photocells powers (0.5 µA), 0.2 μA with its voltage (165 mV), 25 mV, indicating that monolayer cells had a better accumulated efficiency.
Conclusions: Langmuir technique is a very suitable method for bacteriorhodopsin protein stabilization as a monolayer, on the nanoparticles substrate (titanium dioxide) with maximum activity maintenance.