US 2026/0234673 A1 · RESPIRATION OF NANOPARTICLES BY ELECTROGENIC BACTERIA FOR PHOTO-CATALYTIC HYDROGEN EVOLUTION

Abstract

A composition that produces hydrogen includes a nanoparticle or plurality of nanoparticles; an external source of electrons such as an electrogenic bacterium or a plurality of electrogenic bacteria and a carbon source; and an aqueous medium. The nanoparticles and the aqueous medium are combined in a mixture and, upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the absorption profile of the nanoparticles, the nanoparticles generate an electron that can reduce a proton in the aqueous medium. The source of electrons is capable of reducing the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may comprise cadmium chalcogenide or water-soluble cadmium chalcogenide quantum dots. The nanoparticles may also comprise core-shell nanoparticles, nanorods; dot-in rods, Zn-based II-VI core quantum dots, and nanoplatelets including core-crown and core-shell nanoplatelets. The electrogenic bacterium or bacteria may comprise Shewanella oneidensis, a Geobacter species or any bacterium capable of extracellular electron transfer.

Claims61

Dependent claims

A composition for producing hydrogen, consisting essentially of:

(a) a nanoparticle or plurality of nanoparticles, selected from the group consisting of:
(1) CdSe, CdS, CdTe, PbS, PbTe, PbSe, GaAs, InP, InAs, Si, and Ge nanoparticles;
(2) core-shell nanoparticles, including CdSe/CdS, CdSe/CdTe, CdTe/CdSe, and PbSe/PbS core-shell nanoparticles;
(3) CdSe, CdS, CdTe, PbS, PbTe, PbSe, GaAs, InP, InAs, Si, and Ge nanorods;
(4) dot-in rods, including CdSe/CdS, CdSe/CdTe, CdTe/CdS, and CdTe/CdSe dot-in rods;
(5) Zn-based II-VI core QDs, (6) nanoplatelets including core-crown and core-shell nanoplatelets comprising CdSe, CdS, CdTe, PbS, PbTe, PbSe, GaAs, InP, InAs, Si, Ge, SnS, SnSe, SnTe, Ag2S, Ag2Se and/or Ag2Te;
(7) SnS, SnSe, SnTe, Ag2S, Ag2Se and Ag2Te;
and combinations thereof;
(b) an external source of electrons, wherein the external source of electrons is an electrogenic bacterium or a plurality of electrogenic bacteria;
and
(c) a bacterial growth medium;
wherein the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles and the bacterial growth medium are combined in a mixture;
upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the absorption profile of the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles, the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles is capable of generating an electron that can reduce a proton in the bacterial growth medium;
and the source of electrons is capable of reducing the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles.

11 more elements

A method for producing hydrogen consisting essentially of:

(a) providing a source of electrons wherein the source of electrons is an electrogenic bacterium or a plurality of electrogenic bacteria;
(b) contacting a nanoparticle or a plurality of nanoparticles in a bacterial growth medium to form a mixture in the presence of the source of electrons, wherein the nanoparticle or plurality of nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of:
(1) CdSe, CdS, CdTe, PbS, PbTe, PbSe, GaAs, InP, InAs, Si, and Ge nanoparticles;
(2) core-shell nanoparticles, including CdSe/CdS, CdSe/CdTe, CdTe/CdSe, and PbSe/PbS core-shell nanoparticles;
(3) CdSe, CdS, CdTe, PbS, PbTe, PbSe, GaAs, InP, InAs, Si, and Ge nanorods;
(4) dot-in rods, including CdSe/CdS, CdSe/CdTe, CdTe/CdS, and CdTe/CdSe dot-in rods;
(5) Zn-based II-VI core QDs, (6) nanoplatelets including core-crown and core-shell nanoplatelets comprising CdSe, CdS, CdTe, PbS, PbTe, PbSe, GaAs, InP, InAs, Si, Ge, SnS, SnSe, SnTe, Ag2S, Ag2Se and/or Ag2Te;
(7) SnS, SnSe, SnTe, Ag2S, Ag2Se and Ag2Te;
and combinations thereof;
and
(c) exposing the mixture from (b) to electromagnetic radiation having at least a wavelength in the absorption profile of the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles, wherein:
upon exposure to the electromagnetic radiation, the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles is capable of generating an electron that can reduce a proton in the bacterial growth medium, and
the source of electrons is capable of reducing the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles, such that hydrogen is produced.

10 more elements

A composition for producing hydrogen, comprising:

(a) a nanoparticle or plurality of nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of:
(1) CdSe, CdS, CdTe, PbS, PbTe, PbSe, GaAs, InP, InAs, Si, and Ge nanoparticles;
(2) core-shell nanoparticles, including CdSe/CdS, CdSe/CdTe, CdTe/CdSe, and PbSe/PbS core-shell nanoparticles;
(3) CdSe, CdS, CdTe, PbS, PbTe, PbSe, GaAs, InP, InAs, Si, and Ge nanorods;
(4) dot-in rods, including CdSe/CdS, CdSe/CdTe, CdTe/CdS, and CdTe/CdSe dot-in rods;
(5) Zn-based II-VI core QDs, (6) nanoplatelets including core-crown and core-shell nanoplatelets comprising CdSe, CdS, CdTe, PbS, PbTe, PbSe, GaAs, InP, InAs, Si, Ge, SnS, SnSe, SnTe, Ag2S, Ag2Se and/or Ag2Te;
(7) SnS, SnSe, SnTe, Ag2S, Ag2Se and Ag2Te;
and
combinations thereof;
(b) an external source of electrons, wherein the external source of electrons is an electrogenic bacterium or a plurality of electrogenic bacteria;
(c) a surface;
and
(d) a bacterial growth medium;
wherein the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles adhere to the surface and the surface is in contact with the bacterial growth medium;
upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the absorption profile of the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles, the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles is capable of generating an electron that can reduce a proton in the bacterial growth medium;
and the source of electrons is capable of reducing the nanoparticle or the plurality of nanoparticles.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Respiration of nanoparticles by electrogenic bacteria for photo-catalytic hydrogen evolution

Life of this patent

Respiration of nanoparticles by electrogenic bacteria for photo-catalytic hydrogen evolution

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims61