14/5/2008

Scientists at Bangor University are trying to copy the way that leaves create energy.

As leaves, nature's most efficient form of solar energy production, are bursting into view all around us, the Bangor scientists are investigating whether it is possible to replicate plant life's ability to turn sunlight into energy.

The Bangor team, led by Dr Peter Holliman from the School of Chemistry, are set to begin a feasibility study into 'biosolar energy', or harnessing the sun's energy potential. using the same methods as used by plant-life- photosynthesis in newly designed solar cells.

The potential for this type of technology is substantial- photosynthesis is sufficiently effective to support a huge range of plant-based life on earth. The technology would be substantially different in approach to current solar technologies, and has the potential to be more cost-effective. The question is how practical is it to replicate this process outside the plant cell and to scale-up to produce a 'super-leaf' that would produce more energy? Their research is funded by a one year grant from the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

"We remember from our schooldays that photosynthesis operates by light being absorbed by the leaf. The process then captures solar energy when water is split into oxygen, protons and electrons. This takes place in the chloroplast of cells which are held in plant leaves. Within these chloroplasts, lie membranes where photosynthesis takes place," said Dr Peter Holliman.

"We aim to test the feasibility of extracting the membranes from within the cell and attaching them to electrodes to create efficient low cost solar energy harvesters. It is already known that such solar cells are capable of generating very small currents from sunlight. Here we are aiming to increase these currents in order to develop a viable commercial technology."

The Bangor project team involves experts in biological chemistry (Dr Lorrie Murphy -Chemistry) and Dr Graham Ormondroyd and Gwenda Davies (BC -- a research Centre within Bangor University) and in solar energy (Dr Holliman and a newly appointed post-doctoral researcher - Dr Udaya Ketipearachchi from Sri Lanka).