Increase the efficiency of photosynthetic reactions with nanoparticles

Metal nanoparticles can help increase energy production efficiency in photosynthetic systems, according to recent research results by the US and Israeli scientists.

This is a new hybrid system, consisting of a photosynthetic reaction center containing chlorophyll alternating with gold and silver crystalline nanoparticles, which can produce more than 10 times the electrons that dim the plasmon resonance and feces. electronic cup - fast empty hole. This enhancement mechanism can be used to design artificial light recovery systems - according to the results published in Nano Letters.

Chlorophyll molecules play a role in making galaxies (gree) for most plants and have a vital role in photosynthetic reactions, which through this process plants convert from carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and gases. oxygen thanks to the stimulation of light energy.

Recently, Alexander Govorov's group (Ohio State University, USA) and Itai Carmeli (Tel Aviv University, Israel) have calculated a new hybrid structure that combines natural and photosynthetic molecular complexes. metal nanoparticles . Using this model, the team showed that the rate of chemical reactions in the system can be greatly enhanced by plasmon resonance - a classical effect in which the electromagnetic field of light gives rise to resonance in the collective vibrations of electrons in nanoparticles.

According to Govorov and Carmeli, the plasmon effect increases electrons produced in photosynthetic complexes so that re-generation systems can enhance the quality of photovoltaic-based components. Furthermore, the photosynthesis system also strongly dissociates electrons (optical excitation) and holes so that they are not lost due to energy conversion to metal nanoparticles (This mechanism is similar to the separation electronics and holes are extremely fast in natural systems so they cannot recombine or destroy. Optical excitation electrons can therefore be used to generate energy or create photovoltaic currents.

"An interesting result is that by attaching nanoparticles to photosynthetic molecular complexes, we can tens of times the excited electrons produced in molecular complexes," Govorov told NanotechWeb.org. - "We hope that this principle and the hypothesis of this hypothesis (reactive + nanoparticles) can be used in practice to design artificial light recovery systems".

The researchers say they want a model of plasmon enhancement effects for a complex system produced by a few nanoparticles and a reactive center."For example, we can incorporate a photosynthetic molecule into a conjugate with two nanoparticles," Govorov explained - "and thus, we can create even stronger enhancements."

Complex system by a nanoparticle and a reactive center, creating plasmon resonance effect, increasing photosynthetic efficiency

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