Materials Exhibiting Biomimetic Carbon Fixation and Self-Repair

Technology

Utilizing embedded, extracted chloroplasts, this invention creates a novel class of materials which can grow, repair, and strengthen using atmospheric carbon dioxide and solar energy. Isolated chloroplasts are placed on graphene oxide film, functionalized with immobilized glucose oxidase. The film is then immersed in a buffer such as 3-aminopropyl methacrylamide (APMA). The presence of ambient light and atmospheric carbon dioxide for 18 hours at room temperature results in the formation of a hydrogel around the chloroplasts. Glucose exported from chloroplasts is converted to gluconolactone by the action of the enzyme glucose oxidase and reacted under relatively mild conditions with APMA to generate the polymer matrix. The matrix embedded with chloroplasts swells in water and continually grows, strengthens, and self-repairs using atmospheric carbon dioxide fixation and ambient light. Water absorption and swelling can increase the hydrogel weight 115-fold in 48 hours. When a gluconolactone solution is added to the interface of two physically separated hydrogels, the result is the formation of extensively repaired gels which can sustain stringent deformation. 

A next generation material is also developed in which the function of chloroplasts is replaced with semiconducting photocatalysts like titanium dioxide or graphitic carbon nitrides. In these materials, the photocatalyst directs carbon dioxide reduction to formaldehyde. Domains performing this chemistry under ambient conditions can then be coupled into a material with differing pH to generate trioxane polymerized with a boron trifluoride or boron trifluoride diethyl etherate initiator. 

Problem Addressed

Materials which can self-repair to correct damage have increased lifetimes and resistance against fatigue and acute mechanical stress. Current research to develop synthetic materials with self-repairing properties require one or more external stimuli (heating, pH, mechanical stress, UV light) to be initiated. These materials are therefore not self-sustaining. Materials that can autonomously detect and respond to damage are ideal but have only recently been introduced, each having sufficient limitations to preclude mass-scale application and commercialization. This invention creates a novel class of self-sustaining materials which can autonomously grow, repair and strengthen through carbon dioxide fixation in the presence of sunlight.  

Advantages

• Infinitely self-sustaining, self-repairing hydrogel that fixes carbon dioxide in the presence of sunlight
• Carbon dioxide fixation using chloroplasts or semiconducting photocatalysts 

Publications

Seon-Yeong Kwak, et al. Polymethacrylamide and Carbon Composites that Grow, Strengthen, and Self‐Repair using Ambient Carbon Dioxide Fixation. Advanced Materials. 2018 Oct 09. doi: 10.1002/adma.201804037