Photoelectrochemistry of a photosystem I - Ferredoxin construct on ITO electrodes

Abstract

In this study, photobioelectrodes based on a ferredoxin-modified photosystem I (PSI-Fd) from Thermosynechococcus vestitus have been prepared and characterized regarding the direct electron transfer between PSI-Fd and the electrode. The modified PSI with the covalently linked ferredoxin (Fd) on its stromal side has been immobilized on indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrodes with a 3-dimensional inverse-opal structure. Compared to native PSI, a lower photocurrent and a lower onset potential of the cathodic photocurrent have been observed. This can be mainly attributed to a different adsorption behavior of the PSI-Fd-construct onto the 3D ITO. However, the overall behavior is rather similar to PSI. First experiments have been performed for applying this PSI-Fd photobioelectrode for enzyme-driven NADPH generation. By coupling the electrode system with ferredoxin-NADP⁺-reductase (FNR), first hints for the usage of photoelectrons for biosynthesis have been collected by verifying NADPH generation.

Keywords: Biosynthesis; Ferredoxin NADP(+) reductase; ITO electrode; Photobioelectrochemistry; Photosystem I.