Sunlight illuminates the future
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In 2011, researchers identified the crystal structures of several important proteins, and a protein structure called photosynthetic system II (PSII) has attracted much attention. Research on the structure of photosynthetic proteins may be the key to opening the door to powerful clean energy. Plants use this protein to cleave water into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. When we understand the mysteries, we may be able to create artificial devices that use inexhaustible light energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
At present, scientists have separated two light systems from the chloroplast lamellar structure. They are all protein complexes. Photosynthetic system-I (PSI) particles are small, with a diameter of 11 nm; PSII (photosynthetic system-II) particles are large with a diameter of 17.5 nm. PSII proteases can use electron-reducing protons to release hydrogen. The reported resolution of the PSII structure in the past was 3.8-2.9 Angstroms (1 Angstrom = 0.1 nm), which is insufficient to reveal the detailed structure of the water separation reaction center. Therefore, in April 2011, researchers from Osaka City University in Japan published papers in the journal Nature and reported that the PSII structure with a resolution of 1.9 Angstroms immediately attracted the attention of scientists.
Interpretation:
Faced with the growing scarcity of fossil energy, basic research on photosynthesis has become a hot topic for scientists.
The use of solar energy to decompose water to scale production of hydrogen is a hot topic in chemical research. The team of Wu Yuzhu, a researcher at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted in-depth research in this area. She has long devoted herself to photochemical conversion research, artificially mimics photoinduced electron transfer, energy transfer and chemical conversion in photosynthesis and supramolecular systems, efficient, highly selective, high value-added photochemical reactions, and photochemical conversion of solar energy. Made some meaningful research results.
As an alternative future clean energy, hydrogen has many advantages such as good combustion performance, many forms of use, and high safety. Humans have been able to use hydrogen to make energy, for example by electrolyzing water, but this method consumes a lot of electricity and is not economically worthwhile. Chloroplasts of higher plants are organelles for photosynthesis. Chloroplasts have 2,500 to 3,000 proteins. Understanding the structure of these catalytic proteases will help scientists perform artificial simulations and thus find feasible ways to use hydrogen energy.
Wu Yuzhu studied the working principle of the chloroplast photosynthetic center and applied the active reaction center of the hydrogenase (ie, the catalyst that promotes the release of hydrogen in water) to the artificial reactor in the laboratory to realize the reaction for producing hydrogen from water. The application of the supramolecular system to the load of the catalyst and the conduction of light energy effectively improves the stability of the catalyst and the efficiency of the reaction, and lays the foundation for the practical application of the reaction.
Wu Xiaozhu said: "This research is very widely used and can be used as a hydrogen fuel cell to realize the use of solar energy. It can utilize the high reduction activity of hydrogen to efficiently produce many organic products and realize the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy."
Outlook:
What will the future chemical reaction become? Wu Xiaozhu said: "If large-scale hydrogen production becomes a reality, hydrogen combustion will turn into water and there will be no pollution. The polluting exhaust gas will no longer be emitted from the chimneys erected by chemical plants. Hydrogen can be transported to gas stations as vehicle energy sources. It will also be easier to manage carbon emissions."
Photosynthesis of plants is an example of the use of solar energy, but it is not simple to go from the mechanism study to the practical application. It takes a long time to produce hydrogen extensively. In 2012, what breakthrough will be made to the basic research on photosynthesis?
Wu Xiaozhu said that they are currently studying how to use solar energy to decompose water to produce hydrogen and oxygen, and react with carbon dioxide in the air to produce carbohydrates. "Imagine that in the future we will not only eliminate carbon dioxide, which is a headache for greenhouse gases, but we can also turn it into useful glucose and truly turn waste into treasure. I hope I can do this kind of usefulness. Chemistry."
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