Tailored Fabrication of Plasmonic Film Light Filters for Enhanced Microalgal Growth and Biomass Composition

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Abstract

Through plasmon resonance, silver and gold nanoparticles can selectively backscatter light within different regions of the visible electromagnetic spectrum. We engineered a plasmonic film technology that utilizes gold and silver nanoparticles to enhance light at the necessary wavelengths for microalgal photosynthetic activities. Nanoparticles were embedded in a polymeric matrix to fabricate millimeter-thin plasmonic films that can be used as light filters in microalgal photobioreactors. Experiments conducted with microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii proved that microalgal growth and photosynthetic pigment production can be increased by up to 50% and 78%, respectively, by using these plasmonic film light filters. This work provides a scalable strategy for the efficient production of specialty chemicals and biofuels from microalgae through irradiation control with plasmonic nanoparticles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number44
JournalNanomaterials
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2024

Keywords

  • biorefinery
  • microalgae
  • nanoparticles
  • plasmonic films
  • surface plasmons

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Materials Science

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