Abstract
Photosynthesis is a process which converts light energy into energy contained in the chemical bonds of organic compounds by photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll (Chl a, b, c, d, f) or bacteriochlorophyll. It occurs in phototrophic organisms, which include higher plants and many types of photosynthetic bacteria, including cyanobacteria. In the case of the oxygenic photosynthesis, water is a donor of both electrons and protons, and solar radiation serves as inexhaustible source of energy. Efficiency of energy conversion in the primary processes of photosynthesis is close to 100%. Therefore, for many years photosynthesis has attracted the attention of researchers and designers looking for alternative energy systems as one of the most efficient and eco-friendly pathways of energy conversion. The latest advances in the design of optimal solar cells include the creation of converters based on thylakoid membranes, photosystems, and whole cells of cyanobacteria immobilized on nanostructured electrode (gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles of ZnO and TiO2). The mode of solar energy conversion in photosynthesis has a great potential as a source of renewable energy while it is sustainable and environmentally safety as well. Application of pigments such as Chl f and Chl d (unlike Chl a and Chl b), by absorbing the far red and near infrared region of the spectrum (in the range 700-750 nm), will allow to increase the efficiency of such light transforming systems. This review article presents the last achievements in the field of energy photoconverters based on photosynthetic systems.
Highlights
The energy crisis and environmental problems are among the most important challenges that humanity must solve in the XXI century
In the case of the oxygenic photosynthesis, water is a donor of both electrons and protons, and solar radiation serves as inexhaustible source of energy
The latest advances in the design of optimal solar cells include the creation of converters based on thylakoid membranes, photosystems, and whole cells of cyanobacteria immobilized on nanostructured electrode
Summary
The energy crisis and environmental problems are among the most important challenges that humanity must solve in the XXI century. The coefficient of efficiency of the light energy conversion into the electric current by commercial silicon photovoltaic cells is typically less than 20% (Blankenship et al, 2011). Experts in the field of artificial photosynthesis reviewed and critically analyzed the photosynthetic and photovoltaic energy conversion mechanisms and concluded that it is difficult to compare the conversion efficiency of the current photovoltaic cells with the living photosynthesizing cells because they are completely different systems (Blankenship et al, 2011). The efficiency of photovoltaic cells can be measured based on the output power divided by the total solar radiation spectrum. This method does not take into account the storage and transportation of energy. Photosynthesis stores solar energy in the form of energy of chemical bonds, which can further be converted into electrical energy (Sekar and Ramasamy, 2015)
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