NOVELTY - A compartmentalized protein-coupled bioelectric solar cell comprises proton-pumping photoactive biological layers (80, 82) containing an oriented purple-membrane/Bacteriorhodopsin (28), sandwiched between a proton conducting material; microporous active and counter conductive electrodes (58, 74, 86, 88); a biological complex including a monolayer of protein Cytochrome c (34) and protein Cytochrome c Oxidase (36), sandwiched between the electrodes, to convert a proton gradient into electromotive force; and a device for coupling the photoactive biological layers and the biological complex.    USE - As a compartmentalized protein-coupled bioelectric solar cell, useful for generating electricity from solar energy, by transforming potential energy into electron flow (claimed); useful as a power source that generates power using biological materials such as proteins.    ADVANTAGE - The protein-coupled bioelectric solar cell has several compartments separated by active protein layers in which the protein layers contain Bacteriorhodopsin or Cytochrome proteins; where the biochemical reactions of the layers are coupled to transform solar energy into electricity. The isolated layers containing the protein Bacteriorhodopsin or the proteins Cytochrome c Oxidase and Cytochrome c, work in tandem to convert solar radiation into usable electrical power. The Bacteriorhodopsin provides the solar energy conversion. The cytochrome sandwiched between microporous electrodes, provides electromotive force. The device compartmentalization and the microporous electrodes, facilitate the production of cyclical proton flow and its subsequent conversion into an electron flow by the proteins. The protein-coupled bioelectric solar cell enables high efficiency solar energy conversion in a lightweight, easily-manufactured and modular device. The solar cell design enables the proteins to be encapsulated in biocompatible polymer gels that prolong their lifecycle, while retaining their biological function. The solar cell uses separate layers for each type of protein, thus protecting sensitive proteins and further improving the cell efficiency by encapsulating each protein in its ideal conditions. The protein-coupled bioelectric solar cell is manufactured inexpensively; includes active biological material composed of proteins, which are immobilized and highly stabilized; has a compartmentalized design that couples Bacteriorhodopsin and the Cytochrome protein reactions effectively and efficiently; allows the Bacteriorhodopsin and the Cytochrome proteins to be oriented separately, and therefore more efficiently; allows the proteins to exist in separate layers to increase the amount of photoactive material exposed to sunlight, and thus increasing the cell efficiency; allows the cell to be constructed in solid state, in absence of aqueous media; allows protection of biological materials not suited to sun exposure, from incoming light; allows for optimal electron transfer to the modified electrode through the use of Cytochrome c protein, to complete an electron pathway from Cytochrome c Oxidase to an electrode; and can be partially transparent and aesthetically superior to conventional solar technologies.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A compartmentalized protein-coupled bioelectric solar cell comprises proton-pumping photoactive biological layers (80, 82) containing an oriented purple-membrane/Bacteriorhodopsin (28) or its genetic variants, sandwiched between a proton conducting material; microporous active and counter conductive electrodes (58, 74, 86, 88); a biological complex including a monolayer of protein Cytochrome c (34) and protein Cytochrome c Oxidase (36), or their genetic variants, sandwiched between the electrodes, to convert a proton gradient into electromotive force; and a device for coupling the photoactive biological layers and the biological complex. The proton conducting material is a polymer sol-gel such as an organically modified sol-gel material (ORMOSIL). The compartmentalization of the solar cell, and the coupling of the photoactive layers and biological complex, result in the conversion of solar energy into a cyclical proton flow and a subsequent electron flow.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic side-view of a compartmentalized protein-coupled bioelectric solar cell serving as a power unit.    Bacteriorhodopsin (28)    Protein Cytochrome c (34)    Protein Cytochrome c Oxidase (36)    Conductive electrodes (58, 74, 86, 88)    Proton-pumping photoactive biological layers (80, 82)    Compartments of solar cell (94, 96, 98, 100)    External load. (128)