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Showtime for photosynthesis

Researchers have captured a molecular mechanism behind the water splitting reaction of photosynthesis using nanoscale imaging and chemical analysis. The study could help inform the design of artificial photosynthetic systems producing clean and renewable energy from sunlight and water.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 4, 2020

Electronic entropy enhances water splitting

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered that cerium's electronic entropy is the underlying reason for its success in water-splitting technologies. Cerium's large entropy makes it ideal for hydrogen production, opening up possibilities for future work in creating a more efficient and environmentally friendly energy system.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 24, 2017

Watching how plants make oxygen

An international team of researchers visualized the process by which plants split water to produce oxygen using X-ray free-electron laser technology. This breakthrough enables the study of oxygen molecule formation and paves the way for the development of efficient clean hydrogen fuel devices.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature·DateNov 21, 2016

A stepping-stone for oxygen on Earth

Researchers found evidence of an early manganese-oxidizing photosystem in ancient South African marine sedimentary rocks, which predates the evolution of oxygenic cyanobacteria. This discovery supports the idea that manganese oxidation provided a stepping-stone for water-oxidizing photosynthesis.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 26, 2013

The future of power?

Researchers at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology have successfully split water molecules at low temperatures, paving the way for sustainable hydrogen energy. The team's high-temperature thermochemical process can exponentially double hydrogen atoms, creating a sustainable amount of hydrogen regeneration.

Nanostructure boosts efficiency in energy transport

Boston College researchers have developed a titanium nanostructure that improves the efficiency of energy transport, achieving a peak conversion efficiency of 16.7 percent under ultraviolet light. The novel material enhances the 'water-splitting' technique by collecting and transporting electrons with minimal energy loss.

SourceBoston College·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 3, 2009

Focus on photosynthesis

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute have determined the structure of photosystem II, a crucial step in photosynthesis. The discovery reveals the precise arrangement of manganese and oxygen atoms, which could lead to the development of artificial catalysts for regenerative hydrogen production.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateNov 23, 2006