How does photosynthesis work?

Photosynthesis is the process plants and some algae use to convert light energy to chemical energy stored as sugar within chloroplasts — the energy factories found in plant cells. Plants need only carbon dioxide and water for photosynthesis to work.

How do plants store light energy?

Plants are able to store light energy through a process called photosynthesis. This process involves the conversion of light energy into chemical energy, which is then used to synthesise glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water. The light-dependent reaction occurs within the thylakoid membrane and requires a steady stream of sunlight.

How does photosynthesis produce green energy?

In harnessing photosynthesis to produce green energy, the native photosynthetic system is interfaced with electrodes and electron mediators to yield bio-photoelectrochemical cells (BPECs) that transform light energy into electrical power.

How do photosynthetic organisms use antennae?

Photosynthetic organisms universally exploit antennae systems to absorb light and funnel the excitation energy to the RCs where the charge separation occurs. This process converts light energy to chemical energy. The use of antennae allows a multitude of pigment molecules to direct light excitation energy to each RC.

How does photosynthesis work in bpecs?

In BPECs, photosynthesis is harnessed to convert the light energy to electricity or to produce high-energy chemical compounds.

Can artificial photosynthesis reduce fossil fuel dependence?

The consequences of fossil fuel dependence could be avoided by fuel-producing artificial systems that mimic natural photosynthesis, directly converting solar energy to fuel. This review describes the three key components of solar energy conversion in photosynthesis: light harvesting, charge separation, and catalysis.