Sunlight-assisted, biocatalytic formate synthesis from CO and water using silicon-based photoelectrochemical cells

We report on a silicon-based photoelectrochemical cell that integrates a formate dehydrogenase from Thiobacillus sp. (TsFDH) to convert CO 2 to formate using water as an electron donor under visible light irradiation and an applied bias. Our current study suggests that the deliberate integration of biocatalysis to a light-harvesting platform could provide an opportunity to synthesize valuable chemicals with the use of earth-abundant materials and sustainable resources. A silicon-based photoelectrochemical cell is developed to convert CO 2 to formate with water as an electron donor by using formate dehydrogenase from Thiobacillus sp.