The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 05, 2015
Filed:
Feb. 04, 2009
Robert R. Birge, Coventry, CT (US);
Rekha Rangarajan, Fort Worth, TX (US);
Robert R. Birge, Coventry, CT (US);
Rekha Rangarajan, Fort Worth, TX (US);
University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT (US);
Abstract
Protein-based photovoltaic cells and the manufacture and use of protein-based photovoltaic cells are described. In one embodiment, bacteriorhodopsin from, which undergoes structural transitions when irradiated with a given wavelength of light, is used as the protein in the protein-based photovoltaic cells. In another embodiment, mutant bacteriorhodopsin fromis used. Exposure of the protein to sunlight causes proton transfer across a membrane resulting in the generation of an electrical charge. The protein can be oriented and/or layered on a substrate and modified by mutation to enhance transmembrane proton transfer, covalent binding to a substrate and layering. The protein-based photovoltaic cells sequentially or simultaneously generate hydrogen gas from water or salt, which also can be harnessed to produce electricity.