Photosynthesis versus Photovoltaics (R-8534)

Photosynthesis is considered as one of the most important biological processes on Earth, allowing plants and other organisms to harvest energy from the sun to power life. During millions of years of evolution, the photosynthetic apparatus has evolved to a very complex system with ingenious solutions for specific functionalities. In the development of photovoltaic solar cells, nature can be of great inspiration. Novel and exciting lessons are expected to be learned from the underlying photosynthetic mechanisms and light-harvesting architectures. In this cross-disciplinary project the general aim is to bridge the world of natural photosynthesis with that of photovoltaics.

Keywords:bio-electronics, cross-over, new energy harvesting concepts, photosynthesis, photovoltaics

Disciplines:Biophysics