BIOCOF: Covalent Organic Framework-Bacteria Cascades for Sustainable Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Artificial photosynthesis offers a promising path toward sustainable and clean energy, though its progress has often been hindered by inefficient catalysis and the use of costly, toxic materials. In contrast, nature has perfected the art of sunlight-driven chemical transformations, achieving high selectivity and accuracy. However, these natural processes are typically limited to reactions that are inefficient for practical applications. To address this, combining the strengths of natural and artificial photosynthesis could harness the best qualities of both systems, enabling more efficient solar-to-chemical conversion.

The project aims to design a covalent organic framework-bacteria biohybrid to catalyze the reduction of carbon dioxide into acetate. By integrating a photoactive sheet with Sporomusa ovata bacteria, the system can harness solar energy to selectively produce acetate from just carbon dioxide and water. This process promises sustainability, as it requires no sacrificial reagents or external voltage. The approach’s cost-effectiveness and scalability make it a strong candidate for the practical deployment of a prototype in real-world applications.