Nanoengineered biophotonic hybrid device

• US 8,173,407 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey T. Labelle, Vincent B. Pizziconi
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey T. Labelle, Vincent B. Pizziconi
• Inventors: LaBelle, Jeffrey T., Pizziconi, Vincent B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kosson, Rosanne
• Application Number:
  US12/215,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20090090410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 435/173.4, 435/176, 435/252.1, 435/286.1
• US Class Current: 435/173.4
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/58 using luminescence generated by light
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02322 comprising luminescent members, e.g. fluorescent sheets upon the device
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/055 where light is absorbed and re-emitted at a different wavelength by the optical element directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. by using luminescent material, fluorescent concentrators or up-conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/761 Biomolecules or bio-macromolecules, e.g. proteins, chlorophyl, lipids or enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

An improved method for the design and development of high performance hybrid devices having biological and nonbiological components. The biological component is used in hybrid constructs that may be nanostructures, given the small size of the biological parts. In one specific embodiment, chlorosomes of Chloroflexus aurantiacus (C. aurantiacus) enhance performance of a silicon photovoltaic cell. C. aurantiacus, strain J-10-f1, has the A.T.C.C. designation number 29366, having been deposited in July, 1976. Its chlorosomes are harvested and positioned in light communicating relation to a photoactive semiconductor. The chlorosomes react to light of a first wavelength by emitting light at a second wavelength to which the semiconductor electrically responds.

Claims

1. A hybrid photoactive device comprising:

(a) a photoactive non-biological component; and

(b) a plurality of Reaction Center Minus (RC⁻

) chlorosomes;

wherein the photoactive non-biological component is disposed in the path of light emitted by the RC⁻

chlorosomes.

2. The hybrid photoactive device according to claim 1 wherein the photoactive nonbiological component is a photovoltaic cell.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RC−

chlorosomes are directionally oriented.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RC−

chlorosomes respond to incident light by emitting emitted light that differs in wavelength from the incident light.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the incident light is in the visible range and the emitted light is Stokes-shifted with respect to the incident light.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RC−

chlorosomes are adsorbed on a substrate.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photoactive nonbiological component comprises a photoconductive component.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said photoactive nonbiological component comprises a photoemissive component.