Mimicking photosynthesis with man-made leaves
Tuesday, November 25, 2014 - 09:00
in Physics & Chemistry
Scientists have long been trying to emulate the way in which plants harvest energy from the sun through photosynthesis. Plants are able to absorb photons from even weak sunlight using light antennae made from chlorophyll molecules in their leaves. This absorbed energy is then transferred to reaction centers wherein the plants create the sugars they use as food. So far, artificial systems built to replicate this super-efficient natural process have been limited to a single reaction center with a few light absorbers, and have been unable to absorb enough energy from light sources with low photon levels such as sunlight.