Inspired by photosynthesis, scientists double reaction quantum efficiency

[MolaKule]

Inspired by photosynthesis, scientists double reaction quantum efficiency

Drawing on inspiration from photosynthesis and the way it can achieve high efficiency in plants, Regents Professors Tom Moore and Ana Moore in Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences and their groups, together with colleagues from the Department of Chemistry at Princeton...

phys.org

 

[Cujet]

That's pretty cool. I have a friend that talks about man-made photosynthesis regularly. I'm not knowledgeable on the subject, but the first line in that article caught my eye, as Photosynthesis is not really efficient at all. Quote: The maximum theoretical efficiency of the photosynthesis process is approximately 11%, and in real life, Sugar Cane, a top converter is 8% efficient at converting sunlight to chemical energy.

 

[y_p_w]

Efficiency is overrated in biological organisms.

 

[xgmad]

I wonder what would be the outcome if sugarcane was based on how efficient that one plant is at converting sunlight into chemical energy by using selective growing and only planting the stems of those that are more efficient than others, as theres no way that every stalk has the same efficiency.

 

[PandaBear]

There are more important criteria in nature than pure efficiency: survival from diseases and wide tolerance of various climate, as well as growth speed vs lifespan.