Recent Advances in Vesicular Systems for Applications in Artificial Photosynthesis and Photocatalysis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Biological membranes orchestrate multistep chemistry creating microenvironments, enabling selective transport and separating redox reactions, principles that, when translated into artificial vesicles, can unlock powerful platforms for photocatalysis. Vesicles that emulate biological membranes emerge as a unifying platform for compartmentalized photocatalysis to minimize charge‐recombination and cross‐reactivity, key challenges of homogeneous photocatalytic systems. Liposomes, polymersomes, and hybrid vesicles can be rationally designed as bioinspired artificial nanoreactors to create tunable microenvironments allowing precise control of light absorption, charge separation, unidirectional electron and proton transport, separation of oxidation and reduction reactions, and selective synchronized catalytic processes. Rapid progress has been made, particularly with liposomes, emphasizing proof‐of‐concept energy transfer and light‐driven transformations. However, several determinants of performance, such as control of membrane permeability, stability, or transmembrane transport, remain under‐addressed. This review covers the recent advances in artificial vesicles for compartmentalized photocatalysis, comparing their properties and assembly routes, showing how their properties affect their application. Vesicles have been demonstrated for energy transfer, proton/electron transfer, light‐driven oxidation, and reduction reactions relevant to artificial photosynthesis. By integrating insights from synthetic biology, polymer chemistry, and materials science, we identify key challenges, including long‐term stability and membrane tunability, and advance design principles for the next generation of compartmentalized photocatalytic platforms.
Source: Small Structures
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,110
Funders: Fundación BBVA, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Centres de Recerca de Catalunya, Generalitat de Catalunya, Institut Català d'Investigació Química, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, H2020 Excellent Science, HORIZON EUROPE Excellent Science, European Social Fund
Awards: G1105844351, G1175115578, G2064873908, G2262748287, G2526912347, G2550080368, G2578815869, G2628364946, G288263039, G3005324705, G300979063, G3110310941, G3480869486, G410571670, G425668148, G451917667, G4642498202, G491712853, G5080475149, G5083316332, G5852091828, G5967599077, G6218905885, G6656126374, G683931746, G7356508694, G7554176777, G7805626310, G7863371703, G8497050386
OpenAlex ID: W7130710445