Periodic Reporting for period 1 - APACE (Towards a bio-mimetic sunlight pumped laser based on photosynthetic antenna complexes)
Reporting period: 2024-10-01 to 2025-09-30
Humanity's space ambitions such as a vastly expanding satellite network, a Moon base, and Mars exploration face a major challenge: the lack of a reliable, self-sustaining way to collect and distribute solar energy, the only readily available energy source in space.
APACE´s overarching goal is to design and realize a novel bio-inspired class of laser media for Sunlight-Pumped Lasers (SPL) – capable of converting natural sunlight into coherent light suitable for long-distance energy transmission.
To achieve its objectives, APACE will:
1) Develop supramolecular gain media (SGM) by integrating photosynthetic or artificial antenna complexes with molecular or doped nanocrystal lasing units.
2) Fabricate and test micro-laser devices under various optical pumping conditions to assess performance and efficiency.
3) Design and evaluate a SPL prototype under different solar radiation intensities and temperature conditions.
4) Define space-preparation parameters for the SGM, including bacterial growth and artificial synthesis in microgravity, and explore the potential exploitation of SPL technologies for future space missions.
This breakthrough technology will open new avenues for solar energy harvesting in space, enabling a new path towards laser wireless power transfer, laser communication and energy storage systems.
It will also provide the scientific foundation for sustainable photonic energy solutions for terrestrial applications.
APACE´s overarching goal is to design and realize a novel bio-inspired class of laser media for Sunlight-Pumped Lasers (SPL) – capable of converting natural sunlight into coherent light suitable for long-distance energy transmission.
To achieve its objectives, APACE will:
1) Develop supramolecular gain media (SGM) by integrating photosynthetic or artificial antenna complexes with molecular or doped nanocrystal lasing units.
2) Fabricate and test micro-laser devices under various optical pumping conditions to assess performance and efficiency.
3) Design and evaluate a SPL prototype under different solar radiation intensities and temperature conditions.
4) Define space-preparation parameters for the SGM, including bacterial growth and artificial synthesis in microgravity, and explore the potential exploitation of SPL technologies for future space missions.
This breakthrough technology will open new avenues for solar energy harvesting in space, enabling a new path towards laser wireless power transfer, laser communication and energy storage systems.
It will also provide the scientific foundation for sustainable photonic energy solutions for terrestrial applications.
WP2
T2.1
Optimization of the growth of the photosynthetic bacteria used for spectroscopic characterization. Optimization of the procedure of extraction, isolation and purification of the photosynthetic unit (chromatophores) to be used in conjunction with the dyes and eventually with nanocrystals. Tested the stability of chromatophores extracted from the wild type and mutant strain of Rhodobacter sphaeroides in different non aqueous solvents and including the promising Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES). Initial attempts of bioconjugation between chromatophores and fluorescent dyes.
T2.2
We have optimized the receipt of artificial nanotube embedding with PolyDopamine (PDA) and verified the stability increase of the system respect to bare nanotubes in solution.
T2.3
Theoretical modeling of absorption and linear dichroism (LD) spectra of artificial antennae was performed exploiting the Frenkel Hamiltonian extended to account for intermolecular charge transfer interactions relying on the recently published CryoEM-resolved nanotube supramolecular structure.
Theoretical modeling of the Purple Bacteria photosynthetic antenna (Chromatophore) and the Green sulfur bacteria photosynthetic antenna (Chlorosome). The model has been compared with spectroscopic data.
T2.4
We have identified key process steps and adaptations for bacterial growth and antenna complex extraction in space; besides, the effect of radiation and microgravity conditions on the purple bacterium R. sphaeroides was performed.
WP3
T3.1
Developed laser equations for an unconcentrated bio-inspired solar laser based on natural and artificial light-harvesting antennae. Three laser medium have been investigated and the optimal parameters found.
T3.2
The molecules exhibiting excited-state proton transfer (ESIPT) were designed, computed and synthesised. Various synthetic strategies were evaluated and two series of compounds were prepared. Their photophysical properties were investigated both in Warsaw and in Parma. Novel diketopyrrolopyrroles were synthesized and their ability to absorb energy from lanthanide-based nanocrystals was evaluated.
T3.3
We have synthesised and characterised lantanide doped Nanocrystals. Photoluminescent lifetimes and internal photoluminescent quantum yields have been measured.
WP4
T4.1
Combining quantum mechanical calculations with network theory, a model of the energy transfer in chromatophores has been built. An initial study of the optimal concentration of the lasing units in order to maximize energy transfer efficiency have been performed.
T4.2
Just started, No results yet
T4.3
Building on lanthanide doped NCs developed within Task 3.3 experiments were performed to test the compatibility in a range of solvents with a view on i) minimising scattering and ii) finding a common solvent where both the NCs (typically employed in non-polar solvents) and the chromatophores (which prefer water) can be dissolved. Organic solvents (particularly hexane and cyclohexane) have shown good results in minimisation of scattering. Deuterated solvents (d-water and d-methanol) were tested as a medium for a combination of NCs and organic water-soluble dyes. Further experiments were carried out to assess the compatibility of both NCs and organic dyes in polar aprotic solvents, which resulted in stable solution of the NCs and dyes.
T4.4
Not started Yet
WP5 & WP6 Have not started yet.
T2.1
Optimization of the growth of the photosynthetic bacteria used for spectroscopic characterization. Optimization of the procedure of extraction, isolation and purification of the photosynthetic unit (chromatophores) to be used in conjunction with the dyes and eventually with nanocrystals. Tested the stability of chromatophores extracted from the wild type and mutant strain of Rhodobacter sphaeroides in different non aqueous solvents and including the promising Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES). Initial attempts of bioconjugation between chromatophores and fluorescent dyes.
T2.2
We have optimized the receipt of artificial nanotube embedding with PolyDopamine (PDA) and verified the stability increase of the system respect to bare nanotubes in solution.
T2.3
Theoretical modeling of absorption and linear dichroism (LD) spectra of artificial antennae was performed exploiting the Frenkel Hamiltonian extended to account for intermolecular charge transfer interactions relying on the recently published CryoEM-resolved nanotube supramolecular structure.
Theoretical modeling of the Purple Bacteria photosynthetic antenna (Chromatophore) and the Green sulfur bacteria photosynthetic antenna (Chlorosome). The model has been compared with spectroscopic data.
T2.4
We have identified key process steps and adaptations for bacterial growth and antenna complex extraction in space; besides, the effect of radiation and microgravity conditions on the purple bacterium R. sphaeroides was performed.
WP3
T3.1
Developed laser equations for an unconcentrated bio-inspired solar laser based on natural and artificial light-harvesting antennae. Three laser medium have been investigated and the optimal parameters found.
T3.2
The molecules exhibiting excited-state proton transfer (ESIPT) were designed, computed and synthesised. Various synthetic strategies were evaluated and two series of compounds were prepared. Their photophysical properties were investigated both in Warsaw and in Parma. Novel diketopyrrolopyrroles were synthesized and their ability to absorb energy from lanthanide-based nanocrystals was evaluated.
T3.3
We have synthesised and characterised lantanide doped Nanocrystals. Photoluminescent lifetimes and internal photoluminescent quantum yields have been measured.
WP4
T4.1
Combining quantum mechanical calculations with network theory, a model of the energy transfer in chromatophores has been built. An initial study of the optimal concentration of the lasing units in order to maximize energy transfer efficiency have been performed.
T4.2
Just started, No results yet
T4.3
Building on lanthanide doped NCs developed within Task 3.3 experiments were performed to test the compatibility in a range of solvents with a view on i) minimising scattering and ii) finding a common solvent where both the NCs (typically employed in non-polar solvents) and the chromatophores (which prefer water) can be dissolved. Organic solvents (particularly hexane and cyclohexane) have shown good results in minimisation of scattering. Deuterated solvents (d-water and d-methanol) were tested as a medium for a combination of NCs and organic water-soluble dyes. Further experiments were carried out to assess the compatibility of both NCs and organic dyes in polar aprotic solvents, which resulted in stable solution of the NCs and dyes.
T4.4
Not started Yet
WP5 & WP6 Have not started yet.
WP2
T2.1
Spectroscopic characterization of bacteria and chromatophores using quasi-single cell resolution. Stability of chromatophores in non-aqueous solvents.
T2.2
No previous systematic work of different PDA-embedding receipts with our artificial nanotubes is present in literature.
T2.3
(i) The introduction of intermolecular charge transfer interactions in the theoretical model for artificial nanotubes, as needed to recover the experimental absorption spectrum, is unprecedented.
(ii) For the first time the full chromatophore and chlorosome have been modelled within the non-Hermitian radiative Hamiltonian.
T2.4
We developed space-adapted photosynthetic bacterial growth and antenna extraction methods; and we demonstrated R. sphaeroides maintains resilience under microgravity and radiation conditions.
WP3
T3.1
Two of the explored designs have been shown to be able to operate at room temperature under unconcentrated sunlight with more than 2% efficiency, which is one order of magnitude larger than current existing designs.
T3.2
Heretofore unknown ESIPT-exhibiting imidazole derivatives were prepared. We discovered the fundamental difference in their photophysical characteristics. Diketopyrrolopyrrole-based lasing dye were synthesised and attached to nanocrystal surface.
T3.3
Large photoluminescent quantum yields have been achieved for lanthanide doped nanocrystals.
WP4
T4.1
This is the first time that quantum mechanical calculations of transfer rates have been combined with network theory to model energy transfer in the whole chromatophore.
T4.2
Just started, No Result Yet
T4.3
Preliminary experiments are done on combinations of lanthanide doped NCs with a couple of dyes reported in literature and dyes synthesised by ICHO. There was observed a moderate energy transfer for some materials. Further experiments are needed to fully characterise the systems and make a suggestion for further dyes modification (lead by ICHO).
T4.4
Not started yet
WP5 & WP6 have not started yet
T2.1
Spectroscopic characterization of bacteria and chromatophores using quasi-single cell resolution. Stability of chromatophores in non-aqueous solvents.
T2.2
No previous systematic work of different PDA-embedding receipts with our artificial nanotubes is present in literature.
T2.3
(i) The introduction of intermolecular charge transfer interactions in the theoretical model for artificial nanotubes, as needed to recover the experimental absorption spectrum, is unprecedented.
(ii) For the first time the full chromatophore and chlorosome have been modelled within the non-Hermitian radiative Hamiltonian.
T2.4
We developed space-adapted photosynthetic bacterial growth and antenna extraction methods; and we demonstrated R. sphaeroides maintains resilience under microgravity and radiation conditions.
WP3
T3.1
Two of the explored designs have been shown to be able to operate at room temperature under unconcentrated sunlight with more than 2% efficiency, which is one order of magnitude larger than current existing designs.
T3.2
Heretofore unknown ESIPT-exhibiting imidazole derivatives were prepared. We discovered the fundamental difference in their photophysical characteristics. Diketopyrrolopyrrole-based lasing dye were synthesised and attached to nanocrystal surface.
T3.3
Large photoluminescent quantum yields have been achieved for lanthanide doped nanocrystals.
WP4
T4.1
This is the first time that quantum mechanical calculations of transfer rates have been combined with network theory to model energy transfer in the whole chromatophore.
T4.2
Just started, No Result Yet
T4.3
Preliminary experiments are done on combinations of lanthanide doped NCs with a couple of dyes reported in literature and dyes synthesised by ICHO. There was observed a moderate energy transfer for some materials. Further experiments are needed to fully characterise the systems and make a suggestion for further dyes modification (lead by ICHO).
T4.4
Not started yet
WP5 & WP6 have not started yet