Detecting enzymes that can absorb useful energy

Associate Professor Laszlo Kalman Department of Physics Concordia University (Canada) and colleagues have found a way to extend the energy storage time of an enzyme like pin in nature from a few seconds to several hours, help make better use of solar energy.

The study is published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Researchers have discovered an enzyme in bacteria that plays an important role in solar energy absorption. Under the stimulation of light, inside this enzyme will appear a charge of separation of charge, causing one end to be negatively charged, the other to be positively charged, like a battery.

In nature, the energy generated will be consumed immediately, however, by adding different molecules to change the shape of the enzyme, the researchers extended the duration of the charge of the enzyme to make it available. can maintain longer than the state of charge separation.

In the future, such technologies could be used in medical treatment and the production of biocompatible batteries. Enzymes and batteries generated by other biological molecules can become devices to monitor in the body after surgery.

Biocompatible batteries do not contain toxic metals like traditional batteries, so it can be placed in the human body without danger.