scholarly journals What defines biomimetic and bioinspired science and engineering?

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Rybicka-Jasińska ◽  
James B. Derr ◽  
Valentine I. Vullev
Keyword(s):  
Charge Transfer ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Structure Function ◽  
Living Systems ◽  
Biological Structure ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Biological Inspiration ◽  
Biological Structures ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Energy Engineering

Abstract Biomimicry, biomimesis and bioinspiration define distinctly different approaches for deepening the understanding of how living systems work and employing this knowledge to meet pressing demands in engineering. Biomimicry involves shear imitation of biological structures that most often do not reproduce the functionality that they have while in the living organisms. Biomimesis aims at reproduction of biological structure-function relationships and advances our knowledge of how different components of complex living systems work. Bioinspiration employs this knowledge in abiotic manners that are optimal for targeted applications. This article introduces and reviews these concepts in a global historic perspective. Representative examples from charge-transfer science and solar-energy engineering illustrate the evolution from biomimetic to bioinspired approaches and show their importance. Bioinspired molecular electrets, aiming at exploration of dipole effects on charge transfer, demonstrate the pintail impacts of biological inspiration that reach beyond its high utilitarian values. The abiotic character of bioinspiration opens doors for the emergence of unprecedented properties and phenomena, beyond what nature can offer.

Redox Reactions in Lipid Membranes as a Model for Primordial Energy-Conserving Systems

1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 437-442
Author(s):  
Salvatore Di Bernardo ◽  
Romana Fato ◽  
Giorgio Lenaz
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Lipid Membranes ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Redox Reactions ◽  
Living Systems ◽  
Asymmetric Distribution ◽  
Conservation Of Energy ◽  
Asymmetrical Distribution ◽  
Energy Conserving ◽  
Living Organisms

AbstractOne of the peculiar aspects of living systems is the production and conservation of energy. This aspect is provided by specialized organelles, such as the mitochondria and chloroplasts, in developed living organisms. In primordial systems lacking specialized enzymatic complexes the energy supply was probably bound to the generation and maintenance of an asymmetric distribution of charged molecules in compartmentalized systems. On the basis of experimental evidence, we suggest that lipophilic quinones were involved in the generation of this asymmetrical distribution of charges through vectorial redox reactions across lipid membranes.

scholarly journals TiO2 Nanotubes Architectures for Solar Energy Conversion

Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 931
Author(s):  
Yin Xu ◽  
Giovanni Zangari
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Tio2 Nanotubes ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Photovoltaic Effect ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Electrochemical Anodization ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Electric Energy Storage ◽  
The Usa

Electromagnetic light from the Sun is the largest source, and the cleanest energy available to us; extensive efforts have been dedicated to developing science and engineering solutions in order to avoid the use of fossil fuels. Solar energy transforms photons into electricity via the photovoltaic effect, generating about 20 GW of energy in the USA in 2020, sufficient to power about 17 million households. However, sunlight is erratic, and technologies to store electric energy storage are unwieldy and relatively expensive. A better solution to store energy and to deliver this energy on demand is storage in chemical bonds: synthesizing fuels such as H2, methane, ethanol, and other chemical species. In this review paper we focus on titania (TiO2) nanotubes grown through electrochemical anodization and various modifications made to them to enhance conversion efficiency; these semiconductors will be used to implement the synthesis of H2 through water splitting. This document reviews selected research efforts on TiO2 that are ongoing in our group in the context of the current efforts worldwide. In addition, this manuscript is enriched by discussing the latest novelties in this field.

Photoinduced Charge Transfer and Efficient Solar Energy Conversion in a Blend of a Red Polyfluorene Copolymer with CdSe Nanoparticles

Nano Letters ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 1789-1793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Wang ◽  
Agnese Abrusci ◽  
Henry M. P. Wong ◽  
Mattias Svensson ◽  
Mats R. Andersson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Charge Transfer ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Solar Energy Conversion ◽  
Cdse Nanoparticles ◽  
Photoinduced Charge Transfer ◽  
Photoinduced Charge

Solar House as an Educational Tool for the Newly Established Renewable Energy Engineering Program

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingwu Wang ◽  
Jianxin Tang ◽  
Wallace Leigh
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Systems Engineering ◽  
Educational Tool ◽  
Solar Systems ◽  
Engineering Program ◽  
Solar Energy Harvesting ◽  
Solar House ◽  
Energy Engineering

This paper introduces the newly established renewable energy engineering program at Alfred University (AU) and a solar house project used as an educational tool for this program. Topics include solar energy harvesting and adaptation of solar systems, engineering calculations/simulation, and global collaboration and marketing.

scholarly journals Biomimetic and bioinspired molecular electrets. How to make them and why does the established peptide chemistry not always work?

2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamil Skonieczny ◽  
Eli M. Espinoza ◽  
James B. Derr ◽  
Maryann Morales ◽  
Jillian M. Clinton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Selectivity ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Peptide Chemistry ◽  
Nitrobenzoic Acid ◽  
Biological Inspiration ◽  
Mild Conditions ◽  
Amide Coupling ◽  
Synthetic Polypeptides ◽  
Electric Dipoles ◽  
Nitro Reduction

Abstract“Biomimetic” and “bioinspired” define different aspects of the impacts that biology exerts on science and engineering. Biomimicking improves the understanding of how living systems work, and builds tools for bioinspired endeavors. Biological inspiration takes ideas from biology and implements them in unorthodox manners, exceeding what nature offers. Molecular electrets, i.e. systems with ordered electric dipoles, are key for advancing charge-transfer (CT) science and engineering. Protein helices and their biomimetic analogues, based on synthetic polypeptides, are the best-known molecular electrets. The inability of native polypeptide backbones to efficiently mediate long-range CT, however, limits their utility. Bioinspired molecular electrets based on anthranilamides can overcome the limitations of their biological and biomimetic counterparts. Polypeptide helices are easy to synthesize using established automated protocols. These protocols, however, fail to produce even short anthranilamide oligomers. For making anthranilamides, the residues are introduced as their nitrobenzoic-acid derivatives, and the oligomers are built from their C- to their N-termini via amide-coupling and nitro-reduction steps. The stringent requirements for these reduction and coupling steps pose non-trivial challenges, such as high selectivity, quantitative yields, and fast completion under mild conditions. Addressing these challenges will provide access to bioinspired molecular electrets essential for organic electronics and energy conversion.

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