Issue 5, 2013

Bio-inspired NADH regeneration by carbon nitride photocatalysis using diatom templates

Abstract

In this report, the bio-inspired photocatalytic regeneration of NADH employing graphitic carbon nitride photocatalysis with a diatom frustule structure was presented. The functional structure was constructed from green and sustainable diatomite (diatom earth) by an “incipient wetness impregnation” method. By using [Cp*Rh(bpy)H2O]2+ as an electron mediator, the NADH yield can reach nearly 100%, with the enzymatically active 1,4-NADH being the only product. Furthermore, even without an electron mediator, a direct electron transfer between graphitic carbon nitride and β-NAD+ was possible and NADH could still be regenerated. Diatom-based carbon nitride showed a substantial improvement in regeneration efficiency compared with mpg-C3N4 which has a higher specific surface area. This was ascribed to the diatom structure, with its enhanced light trapping and scattering promoting high photocatalytic efficiency. Furthermore, abundant species of diatoms in the earth offer more possibilities to construct an artificial photosynthetic system using diatom frustules with excellent light-to-energy conversion efficiency.

Graphical abstract: Bio-inspired NADH regeneration by carbon nitride photocatalysis using diatom templates

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
28 Feb 2013
Accepted
18 Mar 2013
First published
18 Mar 2013
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Energy Environ. Sci., 2013,6, 1486-1493

Bio-inspired NADH regeneration by carbon nitride photocatalysis using diatom templates

J. Liu and M. Antonietti, Energy Environ. Sci., 2013, 6, 1486 DOI: 10.1039/C3EE40696B

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