A new photocatalytic material based on algal cells.

Metallic platinum was deposited at surfaces of intracellular photosynthetic membranes of whole cells of a cyanobacterium (blue-green alga). The deposited platinum particles acted as a catalyst for generation of hydrogen from photosynthetic decomposition of water in the absence of other exogenous electron transfer agents. This technique represents a means of placing metal catalysts in contact with intracellular structures of microorganisms.