Could Artificial Photosynthesis Be the Future of Solar Power?

An Amazing Mechanism in the World of Nature

Photosynthesis is a basic way for plants to produce energy. We all remember it from biology class: chloroplasts in plant cells can use sunlight to absorb carbon dioxide from the environment and convert it into sugar molecules. These are necessary for the plant’s own survival, but not just that—they are also consumed by humans and animals in food. This leads to the production of carbon dioxide, and the cycle continues. This incredibly effective and efficient mechanism is the foundation of all life on Earth. Can we create an artificial photosynthesis process and use it for our own purposes? The latest discoveries by Swiss researchers could be an important step toward that goal.

Scientists from the University of Basel recently developed a special molecule that simultaneously stores four charges—two positive and two negative. The discovery was published in the journal Nature Chemistry. The molecule, created in the lab, “fills up” with charges precisely thanks to the influence of sunlight. This discovery could be the beginning of harnessing the power of photosynthesis and creating synthetic fuels with entirely new properties. Substances developed based on the molecule could release only as much carbon dioxide during combustion as was used in their production. They would therefore be carbon neutral.

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Artificial Photosynthesis in a Swiss Lab

The molecule, developed by a team of doctoral students led by Prof. Oliver Wenger, consists of five linearly arranged parts, one next to the other. Each of them has a specific task:

• Two parts on one side of the molecule release negative electrons, as a result of which it is positively charged.
• Two parts on the other side accept electrons, and thus become negatively charged.
• In between, there is an element that is responsible for the reactions occurring in these four parts and is able to charge the entire molecule using captured sunlight.

This is not the first time researchers have created molecules capable of “charging up” under the influence of light. However, previous attempts only worked under the influence of a very strong laser beam. Meanwhile, the discovery by Swiss scientists produces charges even in much weaker light, which, in the words of Mathis Brändlin, a member of the research team, is close to sunlight.

An Artificial Process, But Not the Entire Photosynthesis System

Brändlin also notes the stability of the Swiss scientists’ work. “The charges in the molecule remain stable long enough to power further chemical reactions,” says the researcher, quoted in a press release from the University of Basel.

It is worth noting that the molecule itself is not yet capable of creating a fully functioning photosynthesis system. However, Prof. Oliver Wenger claims that its development is an important piece of the puzzle that will ultimately give us the ability to imitate one of the most spectacular processes in nature. “We hope that this will help us contribute to new perspectives for the future of sustainable energy,” says Wenger.

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