Awarded projects
Artificial living leaves
- Dr Heming Wang (Materials and Engineering Research Institute; lead applicant)
- Dr Ben Abell (Biomedical Research Centre)
- Professor Robert Akid (Materials and Engineering Research Institute)
- Dr Quanshon Luo (Materials and Engineering Research Institute)
- Professor Tom Smith (Biomedical Research Centre)
This project aims to develop a novel photochemical material via the encapsulation either photosynthesic bacteria or plant cells into a hybrid sol gel matrix for the production of organic compounds by converting water and carbon dioxide under light irradiation.
Climate change and the depletion of fossil fuels increase the need for sustainable energy production. Biotechnologies have recently become one of the most promising sustainable approaches to fulfil such needs.
Current systems for the production of bioenergy, such as green or bioelectricity, bioethanol, and biodiesel still have some drawbacks. They compete with food production for arable land and fertilizers, requiring an additional energy input.
