Elucidating Energy Conversion Pathways at Biotic/Abiotic Interfaces in Microbe–Semiconductor Hybrids

Biotic/abiotic hybrid systems integrating microbes with light-absorbing semiconductor materials offer promising solutions for sustainable energy conversion and value-added chemical production. In this Perspective, we discuss the mechanistic insights into upstream energy conversion processes at the biotic-abiotic interfaces, underscoring their pivotal roles in determining biohybrid performance. We explore how biological, physicochemical, and electrochemical characterization techniques have advanced our understanding of energy conversion pathways and electron transport mechanisms within these complex systems. Moreover, we emphasize the growing importance of spatiotemporally resolved imaging in linking biological activity to physicochemical dynamics at the single-cell level. Moving forward, we propose that interdisciplinary collaborations and innovative methodologies will be critical in deepening the mechanistic understanding and unlocking the full potential of artificial photosynthetic biohybrid systems.