How Photosynthesis Works Solar Panels

How photosynthesis is inspiring solar power research.

How photosynthesis works solar panels.

While photosynthesis is a plant based chemical process solar cells or photovoltaic cells are man made and convert solar energy into electricity. The direct conversion of sunlight to electricity in photovoltaic cells makes solar power a weather and time dependent energy which decreases its utility and increases its price. Understanding how photosynthesis works. This means that both plants and solar panels gather energy from the sun and convert it into something else.

Photosynthesis is the process where plants use sunlight to generate oxygen. Plants capture sunlight and turn it into starch. Simply put a solar panel works by allowing photons or particles of light to knock electrons free from atoms generating a flow of electricity. Solar panels actually comprise many smaller units.

A recent paper published in nature catalysis this year discusses a technique whereby photovoltaic panels are hooked up to a device that electrolyzes carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis starts when a photon a tiny packet of light is absorbed by a molecule of chlorophyll. A natural process that occurs during photosynthesis could lead to the design of more efficient artificial solar cells according to researchers at georgia state university. Artificial photosynthesis on the other hand could produce a storable fuel.

This donation of an electron is the energy imput that starts the whole chain of reactions going. The energy of the photon is used to move an electron in the chlorophyll molecule to a higher orbit and that electron moves to another molecule. Solar cells release short lived electrons when. Scientists are now adapting the photosynthetic process to improve the way we harness solar.

Photovoltaic pv cells that turn it into flowing electrons or photosynthetic plant cells that turn it. Then a microbe that respires anaerobically converts carbon dioxide and water alongside the electrical energy collected from the solar panels into butanol. As mentioned at the beginning of this section life on earth is primarily fueled by solar radiation energy.