From Dynamic Measurements of Photosynthesis in a Living Plant to Sunlight Transformation into Electricity

VICTORIA FLEXER; MANO, N.

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Lugar: Washington; Año: 2010 vol. 82 p. 1444 - 1449

0003-2700

We propose here a new method for the direct and continuous measurement of O2 and glucose generated during photosynthesis. Our system is based on amperometric enzyme biosensors comprising immobilized redox enzymes (glucose oxidase (GOx) and bilirubinoxidase (BOD)) and redox hydrogels ?wiring? the enzyme reaction centers to electrodes. We found that these electrodes, implanted into a living plant, responded in real time to visible light as an external stimulus triggering photosynthesis. They proved to be highly selective and fast enough and may be a valuable tool in understanding photosynthesis kinetics. Furthermore, we demonstrate that with our electrodes we could harvest glucose and O2 produced during photosynthesis to produce energy, transforming sunlight into electricity in a simple, green, renewable, and sustainable way.