仿生光响应纳米通道的设计及其在能量转换中的应用

The shortage of energy sources calls for the discovery of renewable and clean energy nowadays. Nature has developed various energy conversion systems with high conversion efficiency after 4.5 billion years of evolution. Therefore, to study the mechanism of energy conversion in nature and design the bioinspired enegy conversion devices offer us new mechanisms and concepts to solve the energy issue. Light-driven proton channels and light-gated cation channels lay the foundation for life sciences. In nature, they play a prominent role in the process of energy conversion, visual transduction and photosynthesis.Inspired by nature, we aim at designing artificial nanofluidic systems with unique geometric structures and functional molecule modification, which exhibit selectivity, rectification, light-gated or light-driven property analogous to the ion channels, as well as show potential applications in artifical energy conversion systems. This application is divided into two categories: First, we intend to design the light-gated nanofluidic diode to mimic the light-gated cation channels. Then, we intend to design the light-driven ion pumps by modifying inner surface of the nanochannels with photoresponsive protein such as photosystem II, resulting in photoelectric conversion. Last but not least, we intend to replace the photosystem II with totally synthesized photoresponsive molecules and ion carriers, resulting in higher photoelectric conversion efficiency and higher stability.

传统能源的日益消耗导致人类对新型可再生能源的期望与日俱增。自然界经过45亿年的进化，形成了高效的能量转换系统。因此，向自然学习，研究生物体中的能量转换机理以及制备仿生能量转换材料和器件为解决能源问题提供新原理和新概念。生物体中的光响应离子通道分为光驱动离子泵和光门控离子通道，其作用主要表现在微生物的产能过程，动物视网膜的成像过程以及植物的光合作用。受此启发，本申请旨在设计人工纳米流体通道，利用其独特的纳米结构以及功能分子的修饰，在原理上和结构上模仿生命中光能高效转换的某一个侧面，实现新型光能转换材料的设计。本申请设计思想分为两个层面：首先，受生物中存在的光门控离子通道的启发，在纳米孔道基底上设计光控智能开关；随后，在此基础上受生物中的光驱动离子泵的启发，将光响应蛋白或者光致电荷分离分子与智能纳米孔道相结合，设计出光驱动的人工离子泵纳米通道，实现光能到电能的转换。

传统能源的日益消耗导致人类对新型可再生能源的期望与日俱增。自然界经过45亿年的进化，形成了高效的能量转换系统。因此，向自然学习，研究生物体中的能量转换机理及制备仿生能量转换材料和器件为解决能源问题提供新原理和新概念。生物体中的光响应离子通道分为光驱动离子泵和光门控离子通道，其作用主要表现在微生物的产能过程，动物视网膜的成像过程以及功能分子的修饰，在原理上和结构上模仿生命中光能高效转换的某一个侧面，实现新型光能转换材料的设计。本项目基于生物中存在的光门控离子通道的启发，设计和制备了多种响应性的纳米通道体系，并对纳米通道的离子电流行为进行了理论与实验的模拟；并由生物中光驱动离子泵的启发，将光响应蛋白与智能纳米孔道相结合，获得光驱动的人工纳米通道能量转换体系。发表SCI收录论文14篇，其中影响因子大于6的文章13篇，包括Advanced Materials 4篇， NPG Asia Materials 1篇，Advanced Functional Materials 2篇，Chem. Commun. 3篇。