Energy conversion in natural and artificial photosynthesis

Iain McConnell; Gonghu Li; Gary W. Brudvig

doi:10.1016/j.chembiol.2010.05.005

Energy conversion in natural and artificial photosynthesis

Iain McConnell, Gonghu Li, Gary W. Brudvig

Yale University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

258 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	434-447
Number of pages	14
Journal	Chemistry and Biology
Volume	17
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2010.05.005
Publication status	Published - 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biochemistry
Molecular Medicine
Molecular Biology
Pharmacology
Drug Discovery
Clinical Biochemistry

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title = "Energy conversion in natural and artificial photosynthesis",

abstract = "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.",

author = "Iain McConnell and Gonghu Li and Brudvig, {Gary W.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (GM32715) and the Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy (DE−FG02−07ER15909).",

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