Photocatalytic Biohybrid Vesicles

Butt, Julea N. and Jeuken, Lars (2025) Photocatalytic Biohybrid Vesicles. Chemical Reviews. ISSN 0009-2665 (In Press)

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Abstract

Semi-artificial photosynthesis presents an attractive route to overcome limitations of natural photosynthesis for sustainable chemicals production. Synthetic materials are combined with biological molecules, forming biohybrid systems, that provide unique opportunities to innovate new solar-to-chemical pathways. There are further advantages if the biohybrids confine specific processes to different spatial locations. Such behavior is a defining feature of natural photosynthesis and it is mimicked in the photocatalytic biohybrid vesicles discussed in this Review. A non-leaky membrane comprised of amphiphilic molecules defines the wall of the reactor vesicle. Light-driven directional transfer of electrons and/or ions across the vesicle membrane generates an (electro)chemical gradient, a form of energy storage, that is subsequently harnessed for chemical synthesis. In such systems, non-productive backreactions are avoided, reactants can be concentrated to favor their conversion, and reaction intermediates can be channeled through the desired pathway. This Review introduces natural photosynthesis and vesicles as biohybrid reaction containers. Different approaches to achieving light-driven charge transfer across vesicle membranes are reviewed and state-of-the-art strategies for delivering light-driven chemicals production are systematically summarized for this interdisciplinary field. Finally, key scientific problems and bottlenecks to the development of photocatalytic biohybrid vesicles are defined to provide insights for driving forward future research.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 7 - affordable and clean energy,sdg 11 - sustainable cities and communities ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/affordable_and_clean_energy
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Photonics and Quantum Science Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Wolfson Centre for Advanced Environmental Microbiology Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Molecular Microbiology Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Energy Materials Laboratory Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Chemistry of Light and Energy Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Chemistry of Life Processes Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	09 Dec 2025 13:30
Last Modified:	09 Dec 2025 13:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101347
DOI:	issn:0009-2665

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