Photosynthesis may unlock secret to better solar power
InsideBayArea.com reports Berkeley scientists have made a new discovery on how light loving bacteria and plants turn sunlight into usable energy. The research team found the bacteria uses quantum physics to turn more than 99 percent of the absorbed solar energy into useful chemical energy and plant products. The experiment was conducted on bacterial proteins frozen to more than 300 degrees below zero and researchers still face the task of verifying the quantum effect at room temperature, but are confident they will detect the same results. the better understanding of photosynthesis through quantum mechanics boosts the likelihood that researchers can move beyond traditional semiconductor-based solar cells to more efficient artificial photosynthetic devices based on pigments and proteins.
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