Intracellular C3N4 quantum dots-Enterobacter aerogenes biohybrid system for efficient solar hydrogen production

The massive consumption of primary energy sources has exacerbated the global energy crisis and environmental degradation, making the development of renewable alternatives imperative. Hydrogen energy, as a clean and renewable secondary energy source, offers a promising alternative. Among various strategies for sustainable hydrogen production, solar-driven whole-cell microbial biohydrogen synthesis stands out as a highly attractive approach. Here, we constructed a light-driven intracellular inorganic-biological hybrid system to boost hydrogen production. Specifically, the incorporation of C 3 N 4 quantum dots (QDs) into Enterobacter aerogenes enhanced photo-induced electron separation and transfer, achieving a hydrogen yield of 8.6 mL in a 25 mL reactor within 3 h, which is 52.3 % increase over the bacterial-only system. This work provides valuable insights into integrating the light-harvesting properties of inorganic nanomaterials with the metabolic machinery of microorganisms for efficient solar-to-chemical energy conversions.