The Semiconductor Micro-capacitor: An Autonomous Energy Engine for Prebiotic Protocells and the Mechanism of Active Cannibalism

Current prebiotic models of the origin of life, including the Szostak fatty acid (FA) vesicle model, rely heavily on passive processes such as stochastic osmotic gradients and external mechanical agitation. These systems lack an autonomous energy source, leading to rapid thermodynamic collapse after only a few division cycles. This paper proposes an alternative biophysical solution: the Semiconductor Micro-capacitor Model. We suggest that prebiotic vesicles were not mere passive containers, but active energy-transducing machines. By integrating inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles into lipid membranes, protocells converted photon energy into electrical charge and osmotic pressure. This mechanism drove active growth, targeted migration, and the physical cannibalism of passive lipid structures without requiring external intervention.