Solar Efficiency: Panasonic devises artificial photosynthesis that is as efficient as plants

One of the biggest challenges that cripple the world today is the growing energy crisis and the fact that our alternate energy generation is not growing at the rate it needs to. Solar energy is one of the prime contenders for replacing conventional sources of power and definitely the current leader in renewable power globally. And Panasonic has seemingly taken this a step further by creating the very first artificial photosynthesis process that is as efficient as the one in plants. While the likes of Toyota had tried achieving the same before, the current process is far more efficient than ever before.


With their new process Panasonic achieved a solar energy conversion efficiency of 0.2 percent, which is pretty much the same as natural photosynthesis process. To put that in to perspective, previous similar attempts had only yielded efficiency results of 0.04 percent. The latest breakthrough was achieved by the company with the use of nitride semiconductor electrodes and metal complex electrodes. Under the presence of light energy water is decomposed into hydrogen ions and electrons and this process further leads to efficient energy production.

The use of nitride semiconductors has ensured that with an increase in light energy, there is a subsequent increase in energy production as well and that the energy produced does not stagnate. One hopes that the new process helps tap into solar power in a smarter and efficient fashion.

[Techon-Nikkeibp]