An endless source of renewable energy could be used by plants. The plants perform photosynthesis to capture energy directly from the sun, which humans have managed to simulate the solar cells. One hour of sunlight on earth is equal to what humans need in an average year. But so far solar cells have not been as efficient, more effective market making only 6% of sunlight into usable energy.
English biochemist James Barber has suggested in a recent article published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, the ideal would be to mimic the chemical reaction that occurs in plant photosynthesis. Specifically, a step known as water splitting.
The division of water is a complex chemical reaction that takes place in leaves, algae, phytoplankton and other greens. Plants use solar energy to split water into its separate components: oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen thus produced is then released into the atmosphere, while hydrogen is used to convert carbon dioxide taken from the air in organic carbon molecules that form the plant tissue.
Barber identified the key enzyme in this work performed by plants, called photosystem II. He believes that understanding the structure could replicate it artificially. Barber and a group of scientists are trying to fully understand the structure of the system in order to do artificially.
whole process would be great for the environment. Is performed by trees to provide oxygen and consume carbon dioxide, which produces plenty of global warming we are experiencing. If we can create an artificial process, then not only get an endless source of renewable energy, but it would solve all problems. Since it would be releasing oxygen, consume carbon dioxide and hydrogen released could also be used as fuel.
Source: Erenovable
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