Advances in Whole-Cell Photobiological Hydrogen Production

Solar energy is the largest energy source on Earth. In contrast to the limited and greenhouse gases-emitting fossil fuels, solar energy is inexhaustible, carbon neutral, and nonpolluting. The conversion of this most abundant but highly diffused source into hydrogen is increasingly attractive. In nature, photosynthetic microorganisms exploit solar energy to produce hydrogen via photosynthesis, which is also known as photobiological hydrogen production. More recently, various types of artificial materials have been developed to hybrid microorganisms for converting solar energy into hydrogen, namely, semiartificial photosynthesis hydrogen production. Herein, the strategies for converting solar energy into hydrogen with whole-cell biocatalyst are summarized and their potentials for future social sustainable development are discussed.