Artificial photosynthetic antennas and reaction centers

Manuel J. Llansola-Portoles, Devens Gust, Thomas Moore, Ana Moore

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Presently, the world is experiencing an unprecedented crisis associated with the CO2 produced by the use of fossil fuels to power our economies. As evidenced by the increasing levels in the atmosphere, the reduction of CO2 to biomass by photosynthesis cannot keep pace with production with the result that nature has lost control of the global carbon cycle. In order to restore control of the global carbon cycle to solar-driven processes, highly efficient artificial photosynthesis can augment photosynthesis in specific ways and places. The increased efficiency of artificial photosynthesis can provide both renewable carbon-based fuels and lower net atmospheric levels of CO2, which will preserve land and support the ecosystem services upon which all life on Earth depends. The development of artificial photosynthetic antennas and reaction centers contributes to the understanding of natural photosynthesis and to the knowledge base necessary for the development of future scalable technologies. This review focuses on the design and study of molecular and hybrid molecular-semiconductor nanoparticle based systems, all of which are inspired by functions found in photosynthesis and some of which are inspired by components of photosynthesis. In addition to constructs illustrating energy transfer, photoinduced electron transfer, charge shift reactions and proton coupled electron transfer, our review covers systems that produce proton motive force.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)296-313
Number of pages18
JournalComptes Rendus Chimie
Volume20
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2017

Keywords

  • Artificial photosynthesis
  • Biomimicry
  • Photoinduced energy and charge transfer processes
  • Solar energy conversion
  • Sustainability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering

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