Speeding up key oxygen-oxygen bond-formation step in water oxidation
Monday, May 16, 2016 - 03:30
in Physics & Chemistry
For years, scientists have been trying to emulate photosynthesis, the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria harness light from the sun to chemically transform water and carbon dioxide into energy that is stored for later use. An artificial version of photosynthesis could provide a clean, renewable source of energy to help satisfy society's growing demands. For artificial photosynthesis to become a viable alternative to fossil fuels, the efficiency and speed of water oxidation—the reaction that turns water into oxygen gas, hydrogen ions, and electrons—is one of the processes that must be improved.
