Engineering biotic-abiotic hybrid systems for solar-to-chemical conversion

Abstract

Constructing biotic-abiotic hybrid systems for solar energy conversion receives growing interest owing to their sustainable and eco-friendly approach to producing chemicals. The integration of intracellular biochemical pathways with semiconductor materials offers superior product selectivity and efficient light utilization in solar-driven biocatalysis. However, the complicated multidisciplinary features and limited understanding of extracellular electron transfer at the biological-material interfaces hinder the practical application of biotic-abiotic hybrid systems for converting solar energy. In this perspective, we summarize the fundamental mechanisms of biohybrid systems for solar-to-chemical conversion and highlight ongoing challenges and promising directions for future development. First, a comprehensive overview of biotic-abiotic hybrid systems is introduced together with the mechanism of extracellular electron transfer for chemical production. Then, recent achievements of biohybrid systems for H₂ production, CO₂ reduction, N₂ fixation, and chemical synthesis are discussed in detail. Finally, the current challenges in biotic-abiotic hybrid systems and prospective research directions are explored.