Plankton-like Protocells for Artificial Photosynthesis Targeting Carbon-neutral Energy Vectors

Project Information

PLANKT-ON

Grant agreement ID: 101099192

DOI

10.3030/101099192

EC signature date 16 December 2022

Start date 1 April 2023

End date 30 September 2026

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 3 102 816,25

EU contribution

€ 3 102 816,00

Coordinated by

CONSORZIO INTERUNIVERSITARIO NAZIONALE PER LA SCIENZA E TECNOLOGIA DEI MATERIALI
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PLANKT-ON (Plankton-like Protocells for Artificial Photosynthesis Targeting Carbon-neutral Energy Vectors)

Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2024-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

While mature solar technologies (i.e. photovoltaics, photo-electrochemical cells) cannot simultaneously address the multi-faceted future energy challenge, PLANKT-ON aims to develop a disruptive net-zero emissions technology to both address the global energy demand and reoxygenation of our planet. Inspired by Nature, we propose to assemble the first synthetic plankton-like protocells that autonomously utilise light, water, and CO2 to produce O2 and formate, as a green H2 vector. To this aim, the plankton-like protocells will be shaped as containers of two synergic subdomains mimicking the natural plastids and the CO2-enzyme organelles. The artificial plastid (1st type
proto-organelle) will utilise light to oxidise H2O to O2 and reduce a methyl viologen (MV) cofactor, this latter will feed the CO2-rich proto-organelle to selectively produce formate by a cascade enzymatic reaction. We are expecting that this original bio-inspired strategy will open a route to sustainable solar hydrogen. The long term impact is envisaged for scientific innovation in groundbreaking solartechnology, going beyond the conventional photoelectrochemical cabled asset, and readily exploitable for empowering the EU vision for “Smart Buildings as Micro-Energy Hubs” in the world. Fundamental Research advances will be monitored by PLANKT-ON innovation
radar activities, protected by our IP policy and disseminated to reach the expected stakeholders and the general public. Multidisciplinary collaboration among the 6 partners, from 4 EU countries, 5 research centres, and 1 technology-based company, underpins the project activities that will target the EU mission. PLANKT-ON counts on the valuable experience of its Scientific Advisory Committee where international renowned scientists from Princeton (USA), Berkeley (USA), Tokyo (Japan) and EPFL-Lausanne (Switzerland) will contribute to the results evaluation and benchmarking in the field of light management, photo-catalysis and green H2 transport.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In general, in the first 12 months of the project the work was focused on:
● Setting up the consortium (hiring of personnel, purchase of equipment, ensuring the participation of the UK partner etc.)
● Develop a DMP
● Develop a Dissemination Plan
● Develop a Risk management Plan
● Setting up a project website and logo
In terms of science, the consortium started to work towards the following specific objectives:
INSTM Unit of Padua: synthesis and characterization of the photocatalytic building blocks used to assemble the oxygenic proto-organelles, in collaboration with BIOMAG for the synthesis of innovative molecular chromophores and POLIMI for the photophysical characterization of the assembled artificial photosystems following the “Quantasomes” guidelines (Bonchio, Prato et al. Nature Chemistry 2019).
INSTM Unit of Trieste: In collaboration with INSTM Unit of Padua, BIOMAG, and UNIVBRIS, developed oxygenic proto-organelles that can work effectively in the presence of a photosensitizer and of a sacrificial electron acceptor. It worked towards the development of FDH-containing proto-organelles with the assistance of CEA and UNIVBRIS. It started the development of microfluidic technology both to assemble the two types of proto-organelles and to develop the final PLANKT-ON device.
CEA: CEA inhouse expertise of the structure and metabolism of living plankton cells was used to generate general criteria to optimise unicellular algae photosynthesis. This was achieved by deducing rules to efficiently handle information (nucleus), energy production (chloroplast and mitochondria), and downstream metabolism (cytosol, vacuoles). We tested these criteria by a comparative analysis of natural phytoplankton cells. Finally, we developed a strategy to reproduce the above mentioned features via an artificial intelligence (A.I.) approach. The latter will guide future building of protocells for artificial photosynthesis in collaboration with INSTM and UNIVBRIS.
BIOMAG: Biomagune focused on the synthesis and in-depth characterization of new photosensitizers essential to improve the light-harvesting properties of the oxygenic proto-organelles. With careful design and taking into account all the required features for these molecules – such as hydro solubility, photostability, and redox potential – we were able to propose several innovative solutions. Working on two parallel lines of research, we developed i) alternative antennae to the classical perylene bisimide (PBI) ones based on naphthalene diimide (NDI) analogs, ii) chiral PBI-sugar derivatives (PBI-Z) with higher water affinity. The close collaboration with INSTM Unit of Padova gave us real-time feedback on the performances of the new generation of quantasomes, allowing the adaptation of the synthetic targets accordingly.
POLIMI: Characterised the photophysical properties of the starting building-block materials provided by the BIOMAG and INSTM Unit of Padua. POLIMI systematically studied two classes of functionalized molecules, namely PBIs and NDIs, alongside a range of quantasome complexes. The quantasome complexes integrated PBIs or NDIs with both redox-active and non-redox-active catalysts. The screening revealed the efficiency of the various systems in light absorption, charge separation, and charge recombination processes
ENPHOS: Enphos focused on the innovation radar for identifying and benchmarking key materials and processes such as inorganic, organic and hybrid semiconductor nanomaterials, facilitating their integration into market-valuable products. Furthermore Enphos was involved in drafting an economic impact report that assesses the cost-effectiveness of these materials, supported by a thorough analysis of the current landscape for green hydrogen and formic acid technologies. The main actions centred on the design of a microfluidic device for light-assisted formic acid production, with an emphasis on integrating experimental results and design modifications. Being appointed IP manager and Innovation manager, Enphos was dedicated to IP protection and results dissemination, establishing robust strategies to safeguard innovations and engaging with industry stakeholders to promote the project's advancements and foster collaboration.
UNIVBRIS: Assisted INSTM unit of Trieste in the development of both the oxygenic proto-organelles and the FDH-containing proto-organelles.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Not applicable at this stage