Every moment, we take part in an exchange that is essential in sustaining life. We breathe in oxygen and release carbon dioxide which plants then take (combined with sunlight and water) to create more oxygen. And the cycle continues, nature serving as the planet’s lungs. Yet, as our way of life evolves, we release carbon dioxide via industries like transportation while reducing oxygen through deforestation. This leads to unprecedented imbalances in the atmosphere. Artificial photosynthesis may change this trend.
Emulating nature
The foundation of artificial photosynthesis lies in research conducted during the 70s by Japanese researchers Akira Fujishima and Kenichi Honda. Their experiment showed how hydrogen and oxygen in water could be split using light and a catalyst (a substance that, in this case, accelerates the process) called titanium dioxide. From here, one could get the now-separated hydrogen and use it as fuel. It was highly inefficient since their model only worked on UV light and had a low conversion rate.
However, this proved we can mimic the way plants generate energy, a complex process that evolved over millions of years. Artificial photosynthesis has since evolved considerably, and it gained the name we know it now. There is still a branch that focuses on the harnessing of light which applies advanced techniques such as nanoparticles and optimizes the catalyst assembly structure all to make this method as efficient as possible and viable to produce clean energy in a large-scale environment.
Beyond imitation
Another branch has emerged that is even closer to photosynthesis and is turning carbon from dioxide into monoxide, which can also be turned into fuel. Given the excess of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, this can be a huge turning point. The prospect of artificial plants that both power us and filter our air is no longer impossible.
However, we have a long way to go before it becomes a reality. And we still owe nature. As we’ve disrupted ecosystems and torn apart a balance that far exceeded us, artificial photosynthesis could offer a possibility of making amends rather than a replacement of the planet’s lungs. In combination with other renewable and clean innovations, we could slowly heal the planet. And by extension, heal the cycle that powers us.
YouTube: Sustainable energy through artificial photosynthesis – Tokyo Tech News
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Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been taken by Mo Eid.
Sources: Our World in Data / ScienceDirect / JapanGov / Tyler Irving (University of Toronto) / Glenn Roberts Jr. (Berkeley Lab)
