Making machines run by photosynthesis and/or generate energy from it?

Question

For all the research done on plants and alternative energy sources you would think someone design a "giant plant" that would gather sun and turn it into energy the same way a plant does IE not using toxic substances like solar panels. Has there ever been such an effort...or do you have any ideas for one?

Answer 1

The primary problem in using photosynthesis as it currently exist is in its lack of efficiency. Green plants convert as little as 0.1 up to 6 percent of the sunlight that falls onto them into chemical energy. Collection of solar energy with greater efficiency is possible. We have designed solar batteries that already convert sunlight into electrical energy with 15 percent efficiency then with nearly no loss in energy it could be converted to chemical energy if that was a goal. Obviously plant evolution was driven by other needs. However for us to use plants at their current levels of efficiency is to near the break even point in return for the effort of growing them for power. Our first goal will be toward a modified pigment molecule or light harvesting pigment array capable of collecting with an increase in efficiency. This is possible as plants already show a broad range. Sugarcane is the current exception with nearly 8%. More efficient photosynthesis may then yield more than power as a plant would grow to maturity in a shorter period &/or with increased yield. This has always been the goal of breeding high yield plants but now we can be much more explicit in our selectivity.
Arizona State University is attempting to duplicate the primary reaction independent of a living plant in the membrane based model. They have produced ATP in this model. This may form the basis for increasing understanding of the system once there is a way of testing changes with controlled variables independent of the environment.
Current experiments
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200008/02/eng20000802_47048.html
http://www.edn.com/blog/1470000147/post/590008459.html

Answer 2

Photosynthesis involves millions of nanomachines all working together to strip hydrogen from water, combine it with carbon dioxide and then gradually build up molecules of glucose. These nanomachines are the enzymes and coenzymes embedded in the membranes of chloroplasts. Plants use solar energy to decompose water, because it takes more energy to accomplish this than is available using chemical energy. Once this step is preformed, the cell metabolizes glucose, forming ATP. This is where all cells store chemical energy. The chemical energy is then used for routine biochemical reactions.

Some fuel cells have accomplished the separation of hydrogen from other atoms using solar energy. One is a cell which decomposes ammonia using ultraviolet radiation. I don't know of a cell capable of using solar radiation to separate hydrogen from water. Another possible hydrogen source is hydrogen sulfide. In this reaction, primitive bacteria use geothermal energy to strip hydrogen and make carbohydrates. This reaction could be called thermosynthesis.

Answer 3

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