Nature shows how sunlight can provide clean energy
VU professor foresees solutions in complex biological systems
This is a press release of the VU University Amsterdam
Clean solutions to human energy demands are essential to our future. While sunlight is the most abundant source of energy at our disposal, we have yet to learn how to capture, transfer and store solar energy efficiently. According to Rienk van Grondelle, VU professor and member of the FOM Board of Governors as well as FOM workgroup leader, the solutions can be found in the complex systems at work in nature.
Light-harvesting complex prevents loss of energy
In a review article in today's Nature Chemistry, Van Grondelle and international colleagues present the current scientific knowledge on how in nature sunlight is absorbed and converted to usable energy (photosynthesis). Using lessons learned from these natural phenomena, they provide a framework for how to efficiently harvest and store the absorbed energy before it gets lost.
Pigments absorb solar energy
"That is one of the key challenges in our research," says Van Grondelle. "The solar energy is absorbed by colored molecules, also known as pigments. In plants these are predominantly chlorophyll and carotene. The solar energy is stored for only one billionth of a second, which leaves little time for the pigments to transfer the energy in order to produce fuel or electricity."
Energy circuit amplifies solar energy
More than ten billion particles of light strike a leach each second and the energy of almost all particles is stored and used for plant growth. "That inspired us to suggest an energy circuit that is ten times smaller than the thinnest electrical wire in computer processors. These energy circuits could control, direct, regulate and amplify the solar energy which has been captured by human-made pigments, thus preventing the loss of precious energy before it is utilized."
More information
The article 'Lessons from nature about solar light harvesting' is published in Nature Chemistry. For more information, please contact Rienk van Grondelle.