RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Comparing Photosynthetic and Photovoltaic Efficiencies and Recognizing the Potential for Improvement
JF Science
JO Science
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP 805
OP 809
DO 10.1126/science.1200165
VO 332
IS 6031
A1 Blankenship, Robert E.
A1 Tiede, David M.
A1 Barber, James
A1 Brudvig, Gary W.
A1 Fleming, Graham
A1 Ghirardi, Maria
A1 Gunner, M. R.
A1 Junge, Wolfgang
A1 Kramer, David M.
A1 Melis, Anastasios
A1 Moore, Thomas A.
A1 Moser, Christopher C.
A1 Nocera, Daniel G.
A1 Nozik, Arthur J.
A1 Ort, Donald R.
A1 Parson, William W.
A1 Prince, Roger C.
A1 Sayre, Richard T.
YR 2011
UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/332/6031/805.abstract
AB Comparing photosynthetic and photovoltaic efficiencies is not a simple issue. Although both processes harvest the energy in sunlight, they operate in distinctly different ways and produce different types of products: biomass or chemical fuels in the case of natural photosynthesis and nonstored electrical current in the case of photovoltaics. In order to find common ground for evaluating energy-conversion efficiency, we compare natural photosynthesis with present technologies for photovoltaic-driven electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen. Photovoltaic-driven electrolysis is the more efficient process when measured on an annual basis, yet short-term yields for photosynthetic conversion under optimal conditions come within a factor of 2 or 3 of the photovoltaic benchmark. We consider opportunities in which the frontiers of synthetic biology might be used to enhance natural photosynthesis for improved solar energy conversion efficiency.