Introduction

Since the industrial revolution, humans have contributed more carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere than Earth’s plants can recycle, which has resulted in a global temperature rise. In
2016, 𝐶𝑂2 concentration in the atmosphere passed the mark of 440 ppm. To realize a ‘low-carbon
society’, photovoltaics will play a key role in energy harvesting. In a recent article published online,
a team of esteemed researchers have found a reliable generation and supply of clean energy which
is critical for the de-carbonization of the economy, and that is through the utilization of solar
energy.

A group of researchers from the University of British Columbia synthesize a class of

biogenic photovoltaics by coating lycopene producing E. coli cells with TiO2 nanoparticles using
supramolecular chemistry. When this material is employed as an anode in a dye‐sensitized solar
cell, it yields an excellent photovoltaic response, laying the foundation for truly “nature‐derived”
organic optoelectronics.

Concept Article

In a study published in the Small journal of University of British Columbia (UBC),

researchers successfully re-engineered the E.coli bacteria to power solar cells. The result shows
cells that generated stronger current compared to that of similar biogenic attempts in the past and
was capable of working even under dim light.

The proof‐of‐concept for the fabrication of genetically customizable biogenic materials for
photovoltaic applications is presented. E. coli is first genetically engineered to heterologously
express the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway from plants. This modification yields a strain that
overproduces the photoactive pigment lycopene. The pigment‐producing cells are then coated with
TiO2 nano-particles via a tryptophan‐mediated supramolecular interface, and subsequent
incorporation of the resulting biogenic material (cells@TiO2) as an anode in an I⁻/𝐼3 ⁻‐based
dye‐sensitized solar cell yields an excellent photovoltaic (PV) response.

The researchers reported an impressive recorded current density of 0.686 milliamps per sq
cm, significantly higher than the 0.362 achieved by others in the field. These improved cells are also
ideal in conditions such as overcast skies often found in British Columbia (BC).

“We recorded the highest current density for a biogenic solar cell,” explained Yadav. “These
hybrid materials that we are developing can be manufactured economically and sustainably, and,
with sufficient optimization, could perform at comparable efficiencies as conventional solar cells.”

According to the study, this work lays strong foundations for the development of bio‐PV
materials and next‐generation organic optoelectronics that are green, inexpensive, and easy to
manufacture. Furthermore, the work may also have many varied future potential applications
particularly in low-light environments such as mining or deep-sea exploration.
Brief History

Expert Behind

Vikramaditya G. Yadav
Biocatalysis, Bioremediation, Bioprocess engineering, Drug delivery, Infectious disease pathogenesis & drug
discovery, Green chemistry, Medical biotechnology, Metabolic engineering, Synthetic biology, Tissue
engineering

Assistant Professor
http://biofoundry.ca
vikramaditya.yadav@ubc.ca

Office:
CHBE 207

Education
Harvard University, 2014, Post-doctoral Associate, Chemistry & Chemical Biology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013, Ph.D., Chemical Engineering
University of Waterloo, 2007, B.A.Sc., Chemical Engineering

“Vikramaditya G. Yadav is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering &
School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Chair of the Biotechnology
Division of the Chemical Institute of Canada. He received his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) and then went on to conduct post-doctoral research at Harvard University. He joined the faculty at UBC in
the summer of 2014, where he now leads an established a world-leading, industrially-connected interdisciplinary
research laboratory investigating topics at the interface of biology, chemistry, engineering and medicine. He
works with several biotechnology companies in Vancouver and around the world to commercialize his research.”

Website: http://www.biofoundry.ca/members/ or http://www.chbe.ubc.ca/profile/vikramaditya-

yadav/

Sarvesh Kumar Srivastava (Ph.D)

(Scientist: R&D; Technology Innovation)
Hi there! I am currently working at the DTU Nanotech (H.C. Ørsted fellow), Denmark.

Latest Updates:
(06/18): Our manuscript "A Biogenic Photovoltaic Material" gets published in Small.
Cheers to all my collaborators at the CHBE, UBC, Vancouver!

“I believe that science and arts are very similar. Both have the power to combine intricate details by
combining tiny pieces of information together. A scientist too, much like an artist, experiment over
his/her ideas with imagination and creativity, built over conventional knowledge, to express ones
thoughts into meaningful information. Having said that, I relish tackling multidisciplinary challenges
in science at the interface of chemistry-nanotech-materials-biology. Everything in nature is highly
complex, yet executed with seamless harmony.

I am here to enjoy this fascination of mine with the nature’s design of things with an aim to connect
people at an international level in industry and academia. I enjoy science and everything around it,
including project management, strategy development, team building and effective communications.”

Website: https://sknano.weebly.com/

David Wilkinson
Electrochemistry, electrocatalysis, electrochemical power sources, advanced
electrolysis, hydrogen production and storage, waste water and drinking water
treatment, solar fuels, carbon dioxide conversion, clean and sustainable energy and
water
david.wilkinson@ubc.ca
Professor and Associate Head (External & Faculty)
Canadian Research Chair in Clean Energy Fuel Cell Technology (Tier 1)

Office:
CHBE 239

Education
University of Ottawa, 1987, Ph.D., Chemistry
University of British Columbia, 1978, B.A.Sc., Chemical Engineering

“Dr. Wilkinson graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1978, in Chemical Engineering
and received his professional engineering status two years later. From 1977 to 1980 he competed for
Canada as a member of the Canadian National Rowing Team. He received his Ph.D. from the University
of Ottawa in 1987, in Physical Chemistry / Electrochemistry where his graduate work was done with
Dr. Brian Conway. Dr. Wilkinson was an NSERC and Ontario scholar and an Electrochemical Society
Summer Fellow during his Ph.D. term.
Dr. Wilkinson’s main research interest is in electrochemical power sources, advanced electrolysis, and
processes to create clean and sustainable energy. A key area of research is fuel cell technology with an
emphasis on closing significant technology gaps, providing a basis for future generations of fuel cells,
integrating fuel cell technology with clean energy approaches, and simplifying the overall fuel cell
system and energy pathways. Some research areas include engineered materials, electrode kinetics,
cell design, new energy systems, new catalysis approaches, and new analytical and sensor technology.
With over 20 years of industrial experience Dr. Wilkinson still works closely with government and
industrial research in the area of clean energy.”

Website: http://www.chbe.ubc.ca/profile/david-wilkinson/
Sonal R. Ayakar
PhD candidate

“Engineering plant metabolic pathways in heterologous hosts and studying biochemical

mechanisms that control flux”

Website: http://www.biofoundry.ca/members/

Arman Bonakdarpour
University of British Columbia - Vancouver | UBC · Department of Chemical and Biological
Engineering | PhD

Website: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arman_Bonakdarpour

Other researcher:

 Przemyslaw Piwek (biography cannot be found)

Editorial Corner

Dan - A light amidst the darkness

“The research is very interesting since the researchers utilize a living organism in order to
harvest energy from the sun. It’s not just an ordinary living organism, but a bacterium that can
cause intestinal infection to humans and animals. To say that they find something useful out of its
harmful characteristics means that the researchers really are talented and brilliant scientists.
Moreover, this innovation could be a huge step toward a greener and more sustainable way to
convert light into energy.”

Citations

Arman Bonakdarpour. Profile. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/

Arman_Bonakdarpour

Ayakar, Sonal R. Profile. Retrieved from http://www.biofoundry.ca/members/

Biogenic Photovoltaics: A Biogenic Photovoltaic Material. Retrieved from http://www.x-

mol.com/paper/721194
Freitag, Marina & Teuscher, Joël & Saygılı, Yasemin & Zhang, Xiaoyu & Giordano, Fabrizio & Liska,
Paul & Hua, Jianli & M. Zakeeruddin, Shaik & Moser, Jacques-E & Graetzel, Michael & Hagfeldt,
Anders. (2017). Dye-sensitized solar cells for efficient power generation under ambient lighting.
Nat Photon. advance online publication. 10.1038/nphoton.2017.60.

Papadopoulos, Loukia. (2018, July 07). Genetically Engineered E.coli Bacteria Can Now Power Solar
Cells. Retrieved from https://interestingengineering.com/genetically-engineered-ecoli-
bacteria-can-now-power-solar-cells

Sarvesh Kumar Srivastava. Profile. Retrieved from https://sknano.weebly.com/

Wilkinson, David. Profile. Retrieved from http://www.chbe.ubc.ca/profile/david-wilkinson/

Yadav, Vikramaditya G. Profile. Retrieved from http://www.biofoundry.ca/members/

Yadav, Vikramaditya G. Profile. Retrieved from http://www.chbe.ubc.ca/profile/vikramaditya-

yadav/