Recently, highly skilled and experienced scientists created a new and innovative method to directly convert sunlight energy into fuel. The molecule used in this research may play an important role in the process of artificial photosynthesis in the future. The team members hope that this discovery will bring people closer to a sustainable and environmentally clean energy future.
Researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland, inspired by the photosynthesis process in nature, created a unique and special molecule. According to ScienceDaily, this scientific discovery is a key step in artificial photosynthesis and carbon-neutral fuel production.
In nature, during photosynthesis, plants can convert sunlight energy from carbon dioxide into energy-rich sugar molecules. Humans and animals consume these sugar molecules, release CO2, and maintain the natural cycle. Scientists aim to artificially use this mechanism to produce “solar fuel” – hydrogen, methanol, or synthetic gasoline. When these fuels are used, only the amount of carbon dioxide spent in production is released, and thus the fuel remains fully carbon-neutral.
Under the leadership of Professor Oliver Wenger, the scientific team described a molecule capable of simultaneously accumulating two positive and two negative charges in the journal Nature Chemistry. This process is the main condition for converting light into chemical energy, because the charges initiate various reactions, for example, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.
The structure of the created molecule consists of five parts arranged in strict sequence. Two segments on one side donate electrons and acquire a positive charge. Two segments on the opposite side accept electrons and acquire a negative charge. The central component absorbs light and initiates the electron transfer process.
To simultaneously gather four charges, the researchers used a two-step approach. The first light pulse leads to the formation of one positive and one negative charge on opposite sides of the molecule. The second pulse repeats the reaction, resulting in the molecule containing four charges.
The new method allows working with much weaker light closer to natural sunlight. Previously, strong lasers were required for such experiments, which made practical application difficult. In addition, charges in the molecule remain stable for a long time to be used in subsequent chemical reactions, reported korrespondent.net.
This discovery not only opens new possibilities for creating environmentally clean energy but also contributes to the development of convenient and efficient artificial fuel systems for human life in the future.
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