Spectroscopic elucidation of energy transfer in hybrid inorganic-biological organisms for solar-to-chemical production

Solar-powered chemical production from CO₂ promises to alleviate petrochemical consumption. Hybrid systems of an inorganic semiconductor light harvester and a microbial catalyst offer a viable way forward. Whereas a number of such systems have been described, the semiconductor-to-bacterium electron transfer mechanism remains largely unknown, limiting rational approaches to improving their performance. In this work, we look at how a semiconductor nanoparticle-sensitized bacterium transforms CO₂ and sunlight into acetic acid, a known precursor for fuels, food, pharmaceuticals, and polymers. Using time-resolved spectroscopy and biochemical analysis, we conclude that multiple pathways facilitate electron and light energy transfer from semiconductor to bacterium. This foundational study enables future investigation, understanding, and improvement of complex biotic-abiotic hybrid systems.