Biological Nanowires to Harness Solar Energy

Research teams in the UK and Arizona State University in the US have received $10.3 million to enhance photosynthesis in an endeavor to develop renewable fuel.

The funding has come from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Photosynthesis helps plants, algae and other organisms capture solar energy. But this energy does not meet global energy requirements. The project will use electrical connectivity to develop modular division of labor. The teams will develop a trans-cellular, plug-and-play module to transport electrons from photosynthetic cells to fuel manufacturing  modules on biological nanowires. This project will also endeavor to solve food and fuel problems.

Other team members in the US are John Golbeck from Penn State University, David Kramer from Michigan State University and Ichiro Matsumura from Emory University School of Medicine. Lee Cronin, from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, will oversee the British team that comprises Travis Bayer at Imperial College London and Thomas Bibby from the University of Southampton.

Source: http://www.nsf.gov/