Scientists use artificial photosynthesis to produce fuel

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy. This energy is used by the organisms to fuel their activities. Now scientists have succeeded in harnessing the power of photosynthesis in a manner that rivals the efficiency with which the process takes place naturally.   

This achievement is considered a milestone because it can play a significant part in the move towards sustainable sources of fuel. The scientists at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have managed to create efficient, light-powered fuel through artificial photosynthesis. The study has been published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science.  

Although several studies have been able to reduce carbon dioxide to chemical and fuel precursors, this is the first time that carbon dioxide has successfully been converted to products such as ethanol and ethylene. A new catalyst was described in the study that can achieve the conversion of carbon dioxide to multicarbon using record-low inputs of energy. The chief investigator of the study, Joel Ager said: “This is an exciting development. As rising atmospheric CO₂ levels change Earth’s climate, the need to develop sustainable sources of power has become increasingly urgent. Our work here shows that we have a plausible path to making fuels directly from sunlight.”

The Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP), a DOE Energy Innovation Hub established in 2010 to advance solar fuel research, has listed sun-to-fuel amongst the key goals and the study that was conducted at JCAP’s Berkeley Lab campus has helped them come closer to the goal.

DOI: 10.1039/c7ee01764b