Scientists Stop Photosynthesis To Generate Solar Power

They interrupted the process before plant converts electrons into sugars and generated electricity from them.

Plants are believed to make optimum use of solar energy by functioning at almost 100 percent efficiency level, which seems to have inspired many curious scientists since ages. The process of making food by plants is termed as Photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is a process in which the plants use sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, which generates electrons. These electrons help plants to produce sugars or ‘food’ that help them live and reproduce. 

A team of scientists from the University of Georgia interrupted the process just before a plant converts electrons into sugars and succeeded in generating clean form of electricity from them. 

The process involves extracting 'thylakoids' (structures present in the plant cell) and altering the proteins which store solar energy. The next step involve scientists intercepting the electrons with the help of a scientifically designed carbon nanotube backing that pulls them away before they are used in generating ‘sugar’ or food for plants.

The team is led by Ramaraja Ramasamy, assistant professor in the UGA College of Engineering, who explained in his paper how he along with his team - UGA graduate student Jessica Calkins and postdoctoral research associate Yogeswaran Umasankar, manipulated biology for human advantage.

Though the study involves further research to use this technology in the market, the developments can play a significant role in enhancing the functions of solar panels, remote sensors and similar electronic equipment. “Clean energy is the need of the century. This approach may one day transform our ability to generate cleaner power from sunlight using plant-based systems,” says Ramasamy.

The developments can help us get rid of noisy generators, turbines, or coal-fire stations while using green energy produced from natural resources.