Construction of photo-driven bioanodes using thylakoid membranes and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

A photo-driven bioanode was constructed using the thylakoid membrane from spinach, carbon nanotubes, and an artificial mediator. By considering a linear free-energy relationship in the electron transfer from the thylakoid membrane to the mediators, and the oxygen resistance of the reduced mediators, 1,2-naphthoquinone was selected as the most suitable mediator for the photo-driven bioanode. Water-dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes served as scaffolds to hold the thylakoid membrane on a porous electrode. The constructed photo-driven bioanode exhibited a photocurrent density of over 100μAcm−2 at a photon flux density of 1500μmolm−2s−1. •Thylakoid membrane was successfully entrapped in water-dispersed carbon nanotubes.•The entrapped scaffold was used as a photo-driven bioanode with mediator.•1,2-Naphthoquinone was selected as the best mediator for the photo-driven bioanode.•Constructed bioanode exhibited a photocurrent density of 100μAcm−2.