New research could present a game-changing model for artificial photosynthesis. This new system can capture carbon dioxide emissions before the gas can be vented out into the atmosphere. The system is solar-powered and synthesis a combination of carbon dioxide and water into acetate, which is the most common building block for biosynthesis.
“We believe our system is a revolutionary leap forward in the field of artificial photosynthesis,” shares study leader Peidong Yang. The University of California-Berkeley lab chemist goes on to say, “Our system has the potential to fundamentally change the chemical and oil industry in that we can produce chemicals and fuels in a totally renewable way, rather than extracting them from deep below the ground.”
Furthermore, Chris Chang says, “In natural photosynthesis, leaves harvest solar energy and carbon dioxide is reduced and combined with water for the synthesis of molecular products that form biomass.” Chang is an expert in catalysts for carbon-neutral energy conversions. He goes on to say, “In our system, nanowires harvest solar energy and deliver electrons to bacteria, where carbon dioxide is reduced and combined with water for the synthesis of a variety of targeted, value-added chemical products.”
Credit: Berkeley Lab
In addition, Michelle Change (no relation) shares, “Our system represents an emerging alliance between the fields of materials sciences and biology, where opportunities to make new functional devices can mix and match components of each discipline.” The biosynthesis expert continues, “For example, the morphology of the nanowire array protects the bacteria like Easter eggs buried in tall grass so that these usually-oxygen sensitive organisms can survive in environmental carbon-dioxide sources such as flue gases.”
This remarkable new system solves the very important problem of carbon storage by putting all captured CO2 to good use.
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