It would not exactly come as a surprise if I said computers have gradually become an inseparable part of today’s medical research. AI, ML, and various algorithms have facilitated a number of high profile and groundbreaking projects elucidate the mysteries of biology.
And now, it seems like we can return the favour- scientists at the University of Sheffield have uncovered what drives photosynthesis or any other solar-to-chemical or electrical-to-chemical energy conversion for that matter; and how this secret could be used as a basis to develop exciting new molecular technologies for the future.
Photosynthesis is biochemical process that converts light energy into chemical energy in plants, algae, phytoplankton and some species of bacteria and archaea. The energy to charge transfer that is at the heart of this process is what has presently got the scientists excited and instilled hopes about transferring via light at a molecular level in turn helping develop better computing technologies.
Electron transfer is an important part of many natural processes, including the light harvesting process by which plants create and store energy through photosynthesis.
Scientists at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Central Laser Facility (CLF), Professor Julia Weinstein and Dr Anthony Meijer have collaborated
on a project to study a new ‘fork’ molecule that can direct the destination of an electron in a precise manner when a particular infrared light pulse is applied.“Previous research has enabled us to switch electron transfer on or off. What makes our research so exciting is that, via our synthetic molecule, we can now direct the path of an electron in a very specific and controlled way.” Says Professor Weinstein, “In creating this ‘molecular fork’, we now have the ability to model natural molecular processes, such as photosynthesis. If we can replicate how energy is stored and utilised, then we have the basis to develop exciting new molecular technologies for the future. From new ways of capturing and storing the energy coming to us from the Sun, to developing new forms of computing technology, this research opens up some exciting new opportunities.”
The researchers through this investigation hope to achieve the ability to direct charge along one of several pathways that can be used for information storage and retrieval in computing, using low-energy red light.
