Closed-loop enhancement of plant photosynthesis via biomass-derived carbon dots in biohybrids
Wenbo Cheng, Xueyun Wang, Haitao Hu, Yang Yu, Xuemeng Yu, Weixiang Chao, Min Yu, Jianwei Ding, Yiliang Lin, Wei Zhao, Qiao Zhao, Rodrigo Ledesma‐Amaro, Chao Zhong, Lu Lü, Xihan Chen, Junzhong Liu, Chen Yang, Xiang Gao
Abstract
Improving photosynthetic efficiency is pivotal for biomanufacturing and agriculture. Despite the progress on photosynthetic biohybrids integrating biocatalysts with materials, nanomaterials with increasing energy-efficiency as well as great biocompatibility and cost-effectiveness are needed. Here, we present a closed-loop strategy using biomass-derived carbon dots (CDs) for improving photosynthesis. We demonstrate that the CDs act as both light converters and photosensitizers by converting solar irradiation to red light and supplying light-excited electrons into the photosynthetic electron transfer chain. Biohybrids incorporating CDs and cyanobacteria or plant exhibited increased photosynthetic efficiency, when compared with the photosynthetic organism only. The cyanobacterial CO2-fixation rate and CO2-to-glycerol production were increased 2.4-fold and 2.2-fold, respectively, while Arabidopsis thaliana displayed a 1.8-fold increase in the fresh weight of the plant. Techno-economic analysis showed the competitive advantage of biomass-derived CDs over other nanomaterials. These CDs hold potential applications in future sustainable agriculture and solar-powered biomanufacturing. Improving photosynthetic efficiency is crucial for CO>sub<2 > /sub < -based biomanufacturing and agriculture. Here, biomass-derived carbon dots in biohybrids are shown to enhance natural photosynthesis by converting solar irradiation to red light and supplying electrons to the photosynthetic electron transfer chain.