Artificial Photosynthesis: Mechanism and Recent Advancement

Department of Biotechnology, Haldia Institute of Technology, ICARE Complex, Haldia, 721657, WestBengal, India

^*Corresponding Author: sucheta.bt@gmail.com

Fossil fuel firms are gaining profit from the steady utilization of coal, oil and gas, driving global warming to dangerous levels. Additionally, with rapid population growth worldwide, energy stores are depleting faster than nature can replenish. Replacing fossil fuels dependency by harnessing the power of the sun with the storability and reliability of liquid fuelsis the best solution and urgent requirement today. This review addresses the current predicament of solar energy storage and CO₂ emission through recent technological advancements. The proposed and most  promising  model  for the stated problems is artificial photosynthesis which mimics the multi-step natural photosynthesis process. Rather than producing electricity, the photo-generated electrons collected can be indulged in driving chemical reactions. Thus, the chemical energy generated from solar energy is stored within the chemical sin the form of chemical bond (asolar fuel). As the inspiration suggests the working prototype bio mimics the natural process ata higher efficiency. The target edaspecto fartificial photo- synthesis is the molecular catalyst, which is essential for regulating water oxidation,  CO₂  reduction or proton reduction reactions. Over the years, researchers have been trying to modify these molecular catalysts to improve working efficiency and stability and get desirable by-products. With the development of delicate and powerful catalysts, there production of the significant parts of photosynthesis, water and sunlight would ultimately be the only needed sources for clean energy production. The ultimate implementation of artificial photosynthesis is to generate liquid fuels such as formic acid, methanol and ethanol by CO₂ reduction. Production of such fuels with renewable sources minimizes the carbon foot print thus decreasing the emission green house gasses which ultimately aids the crisis of global warming. Many researchers are looking forward to producing than ol by absorbing CO₂, which is widely used as domesticated transportation fuel, from factories and petrochemical industries. This paper also highlights related problems associated with the commercial implementation of the applied artificial photosynthesis.