Development of a chlorovoltaic cell (CVC).

Abstract

The continuous rise in world population implies the rise in demand for energy. With non renewable oil reserves depleting at a faster rate, there has been a renewed interest in alternative energy, especially solar energy. Plants, through photosynthesis have an astounding capacity to convert light energy into chemical energy, with an efficiency level that current solar technologies have not been able to reach. A chlorophyll-photovoltaic cell (nicknamed the “chlorovoltaic cell or CVC”) prototype has been developed in this project to investigate to capture electrons produced by photosynthesis and convert it into electrical energy. This project aims to identify a strategy that can improve the stability of isolated subcellular plant photosystems to be used in CVC as a step towards an alternative more economically and environmentally sustainable energy application.