Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Heat-BLED (Bringing heat into the bright side in bio-hybrid LEDs – Heat-BLED)
Período documentado: 2023-01-01 hasta 2024-12-31
The Heat-BLED project was developed in response to the growing demand for sustainable and efficient optoelectronic materials. Conventional lighting and photothermal energy harvesting technologies rely on rare or non-renewable materials, often with inefficient energy conversion processes and significant environmental impact. This project aimed to overcome these challenges by harnessing the unique properties of fluorescent proteins (FPs) as bio-based materials for photothermal and optoelectronic applications.
The core objectives of the project were:
• Understanding the heat generation mechanism in FP-based polymers and its dependence on polymer matrices, additives, and FP structures.
• Smart utilization of photogenerated heat, either through FP-based nanothermometers or as dual-functional materials that harvest heat for energy conversion.
• Development of bio-hybrid LEDs (BioHLEDs) with improved efficiencies and photostabilities using high-power LED chips and new architectures.
Through the integration of biophosphors into optoelectronic and thermoelectric devices, the project sought to introduce new paradigms in sustainable lighting and energy harvesting, aligning with European policies such as the European Green Deal and promoting bio-based alternatives to traditional semiconductor technologies.
The project’s pathway to impact involves:
• Scientific impact – establishing fundamental knowledge about proton transfer mechanisms in biophosphors, leading to improved control over heat generation and charge transport.
• Technological advancements – demonstrating the feasibility of FP-based coatings for thermoelectric generators (FP-TEGs) and high-efficiency BioHLEDs.
• Industrial and economic relevance – providing innovative solutions for energy-efficient lighting, smart sensors, and low-power autonomous devices that could be scaled up for commercial applications.
• Societal and environmental benefits – reducing reliance on rare-earth and heavy-metal-based materials, lowering energy consumption, and offering biodegradable alternatives for sustainable electronics.
The Heat-BLED project has pioneered new approaches to sustainable optoelectronics, demonstrating the feasibility of FP-based biophosphors for photothermal energy harvesting and high-performance BioHLEDs. While challenges remain in scaling up and optimizing white BioHLEDs, the project's scientific breakthroughs set a strong foundation for future advancements. Further research, demonstration projects, and industry partnerships will be critical in ensuring the successful adoption of bio-based energy solutions in the broader optoelectronic and energy sectors.
The core objectives of the project were:
• Understanding the heat generation mechanism in FP-based polymers and its dependence on polymer matrices, additives, and FP structures.
• Smart utilization of photogenerated heat, either through FP-based nanothermometers or as dual-functional materials that harvest heat for energy conversion.
• Development of bio-hybrid LEDs (BioHLEDs) with improved efficiencies and photostabilities using high-power LED chips and new architectures.
Through the integration of biophosphors into optoelectronic and thermoelectric devices, the project sought to introduce new paradigms in sustainable lighting and energy harvesting, aligning with European policies such as the European Green Deal and promoting bio-based alternatives to traditional semiconductor technologies.
The project’s pathway to impact involves:
• Scientific impact – establishing fundamental knowledge about proton transfer mechanisms in biophosphors, leading to improved control over heat generation and charge transport.
• Technological advancements – demonstrating the feasibility of FP-based coatings for thermoelectric generators (FP-TEGs) and high-efficiency BioHLEDs.
• Industrial and economic relevance – providing innovative solutions for energy-efficient lighting, smart sensors, and low-power autonomous devices that could be scaled up for commercial applications.
• Societal and environmental benefits – reducing reliance on rare-earth and heavy-metal-based materials, lowering energy consumption, and offering biodegradable alternatives for sustainable electronics.
The Heat-BLED project has pioneered new approaches to sustainable optoelectronics, demonstrating the feasibility of FP-based biophosphors for photothermal energy harvesting and high-performance BioHLEDs. While challenges remain in scaling up and optimizing white BioHLEDs, the project's scientific breakthroughs set a strong foundation for future advancements. Further research, demonstration projects, and industry partnerships will be critical in ensuring the successful adoption of bio-based energy solutions in the broader optoelectronic and energy sectors.
The Heat-BLED project focused on developing bio-based optoelectronic materials by investigating the mechanisms of heat generation in fluorescent protein (FP)-polymer matrices and optimizing their application in high-efficiency lighting and energy harvesting devices.
A major achievement was the establishment of experimental protocols for analyzing heat dissipation using dielectric loss spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). These methods enabled the identification of proton transfer mechanisms as a key factor influencing heat generation in FP-polymer coatings.
Building on this mechanistic understanding, the project successfully synthesized and characterized functional biophosphors using pegylation strategies. This modification significantly improved photostability while maintaining the proteins’ optical properties, making them more suitable for optoelectronic applications.
The functionalization of fluorescent proteins enabled the development of dual-functional FP coatings for thermoelectric generators (FP-TEG). These coatings exhibited good photothermal efficiencies between 21% and 48% under white LED illumination, outperforming previous biogenic materials in photon-to-heat energy harvesting. The project demonstrated the feasibility of using protein-based materials for low-power autonomous energy conversion, highlighting their potential for thermoelectric and sensor applications.
In the area of biophosphor-based lighting, monochromatic BioHLEDs were successfully fabricated using pegylated mCherry coatings on high-power LEDs. These devices exhibited a photodecay lifespan of 95 hours, nearly doubling the stability of unmodified coatings, while also achieving a threefold improvement in color stability. EIS confirmed that pegylation increased proton transfer resistance, contributing to enhanced device longevity and performance.
Overall, the project established key structure-property relationships in FP-polymer systems, providing valuable insights into heat dissipation and photostability. These findings have direct applications in sustainable lighting, bio-optoelectronics, and thermoelectric energy harvesting, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional phosphor-based materials.
A major achievement was the establishment of experimental protocols for analyzing heat dissipation using dielectric loss spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). These methods enabled the identification of proton transfer mechanisms as a key factor influencing heat generation in FP-polymer coatings.
Building on this mechanistic understanding, the project successfully synthesized and characterized functional biophosphors using pegylation strategies. This modification significantly improved photostability while maintaining the proteins’ optical properties, making them more suitable for optoelectronic applications.
The functionalization of fluorescent proteins enabled the development of dual-functional FP coatings for thermoelectric generators (FP-TEG). These coatings exhibited good photothermal efficiencies between 21% and 48% under white LED illumination, outperforming previous biogenic materials in photon-to-heat energy harvesting. The project demonstrated the feasibility of using protein-based materials for low-power autonomous energy conversion, highlighting their potential for thermoelectric and sensor applications.
In the area of biophosphor-based lighting, monochromatic BioHLEDs were successfully fabricated using pegylated mCherry coatings on high-power LEDs. These devices exhibited a photodecay lifespan of 95 hours, nearly doubling the stability of unmodified coatings, while also achieving a threefold improvement in color stability. EIS confirmed that pegylation increased proton transfer resistance, contributing to enhanced device longevity and performance.
Overall, the project established key structure-property relationships in FP-polymer systems, providing valuable insights into heat dissipation and photostability. These findings have direct applications in sustainable lighting, bio-optoelectronics, and thermoelectric energy harvesting, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional phosphor-based materials.
Key scientific and technological results:
• New insights into heat generation mechanisms in FP-polymer systems, linking dielectric loss to proton mobility.
• Development of pegylated biophosphors with significantly improved stability and efficiency, paving the way for bio-optoelectronics.
• Demonstration of FP-TEG coatings for photothermal energy harvesting, achieving promising efficiency levels for sustainable, low-power applications.
• Fabrication of high-stability BioHLEDs, with pegylation strategies proving effective in reducing photodegradation and color instability.
• New insights into heat generation mechanisms in FP-polymer systems, linking dielectric loss to proton mobility.
• Development of pegylated biophosphors with significantly improved stability and efficiency, paving the way for bio-optoelectronics.
• Demonstration of FP-TEG coatings for photothermal energy harvesting, achieving promising efficiency levels for sustainable, low-power applications.
• Fabrication of high-stability BioHLEDs, with pegylation strategies proving effective in reducing photodegradation and color instability.