At the American Chemical Society, meeting in Washington [1] researchers presented solar cells mimicking photosynthesis, generating electricity, protons and hydrogen. In nature carbon is the proton partner in reducing energy from the sun into plant hydrocarbons. Remarkably, this water splitting process cuts out the carbon cycle; it leaves out the middleman. The team, including Charles Dismukes, from Rutgers University, Leone Spiccia from Monash University in Australia and Gerhard Swingers from the University of Wollongong in Australia created what amounts to synthetic photosynthesis. Most of us recognize chlorophyll as the plant catalyst for capturing sunlight. The natural process involves calcium-manganese-oxide and complex organic molecules. The synthetic structure, on the other hand, resembles a fuel cell containing the same manganese-oxide, while adding ruthenium dye and nano particles of titanium dioxide to capture the photons. Sunlight striking the cell generates both electricity...
Retired physician and air taxi operator, science writer and part time assistant professor, these editorials cover a wide range of topics. Mostly non political, mostly true, I write more from a lifetime of experience and from research, more science than convention. Subjects cover medicine, Alaska aviation, economics, technology and an occasional book review. Globalization or Democracy documents the historical roots of Oligarchy, the road to colonialism and tyranny