A group of British physicists and biologists in the framework of the pilot research project has developed a technology that reproduces the natural process of photosynthesis in artificial conditions. According to the authors of the project, the goal of such research is the more efficient use sunlight as a source of electricity.

Researchers recreated in artificial conditions, the process of photosynthesis, which have plants and cyanobacteria living in nature. They use photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and energy use associated reactions side energy chain. However, instead use an identical formula to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen, the researchers learned how to make the process so that as a by-product could not only oxygen, and hydrogen, which can be used as an environmentally friendly fuel.

At the University of East Anglia, where were these developments, said that the reserves of fossil fuels are still large, but they are not infinite, and already do not want to think about how you could replace chemical-burn fuel. In addition, the prices of fossil fuel constantly rising, while the alternative - fall, though at present the ratio is still not in favor of the latter.

Julia butt, a chemist from the University of East Anglia, said that they created a prototype of bacteria inside which was posted biological analogue of a solar panel. The created system was sensitive to light and was able to produce hydrogen in the reaction.

In future, experts hope to create analogs of natural bacteria that will be discarded and other industrial useful gases.

At the end of last year, Panasonic has developed a new system of artificial photosynthesis that can remove carbon dioxide from the air in a room working on the same scheme, as these plants. In Panasonic has told, that in a new development, the company uses semiconductors based on nitride compounds that are used in light-emitting diodes to convert light into energy, and metal catalyst to convert carbon dioxide and water to form acids. Carbon dioxide today is a major polluter and the cause of the greenhouse effect on the planet.

Speaking about the new system, Panasonic notes that it reproduces the process of photosynthesis in plants, and also relies on sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and by-products. As such, the installation will produce water and carbohydrates, such as sugar. The company says that theoretically "artificial leaves" you can embed in solar panels to those during operation generated not only electricity, but also pure oxygen. However, with the current technologies of production of new technology is very expensive and unlikely to be popular on the mass market.