Energy conversion in natural and artificial photosynthesis.
Modern civilization is dependent upon fossil fuels, a nonrenewable energy source originally provided by the storage of solar energy. Fossil-fuel dependence has severe consequences, including energy security issues and greenhouse gas emissions. The consequences of fossil-fuel dependence could be avoided by fuel-producing artificial systems that mimic natural photosynthesis, directly converting solar energy to fuel. This review describes the three key components of solar energy conversion in photosynthesis: light harvesting, charge separation, and catalysis. These processes are compared in natural and in artificial systems. Such a comparison can assist in understanding the general principles of photosynthesis and in developing working devices, including photoelectrochemical cells, for solar energy conversion.
McConnell
Iain
I
Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Li
Gonghu
G
Brudvig
Gary W
GW
D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D004579:Electron Transport; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D010788:Photosynthesis; D012993:Solar Energy
D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes