Biomolecule-carbon nanostructure nanocomposites for optoelectronic devices

A method comprising

• illuminating an optoelectronic device with light, the optoelectronic device comprising
• a nanocomposite comprising a carbon nanostructure having a surface and a biomolecule adsorbed on the surface of the carbon nanostructure and forming a heterojunction at the interface of the carbon nanostructure and the biomolecule, the carbon nanostructure and the biomolecule each characterized by respective conduction band edges and valence band edges;
• a first electrode in electrical communication with the nanocomposite;
• and
• a second electrode in electrical communication with the nanocomposite,
• wherein the conduction band edge offset, the valence band edge offset, or both, across the heterojunction is greater in energy than the binding energy of an exciton generated in the carbon nanostructure or the biomolecule upon the absorption of light such that the exciton dissociates at the heterojunction to an electron, which is injected into one of the carbon nanostructure and the biomolecule, and a hole, which is injected into the other of the carbon nanostructure and the biomolecule;
• and
• separately collecting the electron and the hole via the first and second electrodes.