Quantum Coherence in Photosynthesis for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion

The crucial step in the conversion of solar to chemical energy in Photosynthesis takes place in the reaction center where the absorbed excitation energy is converted into a stable charge separated state by ultrafast electron transfer events. However, the fundamental mechanism responsible for the nea...

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Main Authors:	Romero, Elisabet, Augulis, Ramunas, Novoderezhkin, Vladimir I., Ferretti, Marco, Thieme, Jos, Zigmantas, Donatas, van Grondelle, Rienk
Format:	Online
Language:	English
Published:	2014
Online Access:	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4746732/

id	pubmed-4746732
recordtype	oai_dc
spelling	pubmed-47467322016-02-09 Quantum Coherence in Photosynthesis for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion Romero, Elisabet Augulis, Ramunas Novoderezhkin, Vladimir I. Ferretti, Marco Thieme, Jos Zigmantas, Donatas van Grondelle, Rienk Article The crucial step in the conversion of solar to chemical energy in Photosynthesis takes place in the reaction center where the absorbed excitation energy is converted into a stable charge separated state by ultrafast electron transfer events. However, the fundamental mechanism responsible for the near unity quantum efficiency of this process is unknown. Here we elucidate the role of coherence in determining the efficiency of charge separation in the plant photosystem II reaction centre (PSII RC) by comprehensively combining experiment (two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy) and theory (Redfield theory). We reveal the presence of electronic coherence between excitons as well as between exciton and charge transfer states which we argue to be maintained by vibrational modes. Furthermore, we present evidence for the strong correlation between the degree of electronic coherence and efficient and ultrafast charge separation. We propose that this coherent mechanism will inspire the development of new energy technologies. 2014-09-01 /pmc/articles/PMC4746732/ /pubmed/26870153 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nphys3017 Text en Users may view, print, copy, and download text and data-mine the content in such documents, for the purposes of academic research, subject always to the full Conditions of use:http://www.nature.com/authors/editorial_policies/license.html#terms
repository_type	Open Access Journal
institution_category	Foreign Institution
institution	US National Center for Biotechnology Information
building	NCBI PubMed
collection	Online Access
language	English
format	Online
author	Romero, Elisabet Augulis, Ramunas Novoderezhkin, Vladimir I. Ferretti, Marco Thieme, Jos Zigmantas, Donatas van Grondelle, Rienk
spellingShingle	Romero, Elisabet Augulis, Ramunas Novoderezhkin, Vladimir I. Ferretti, Marco Thieme, Jos Zigmantas, Donatas van Grondelle, Rienk Quantum Coherence in Photosynthesis for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion
author_facet	Romero, Elisabet Augulis, Ramunas Novoderezhkin, Vladimir I. Ferretti, Marco Thieme, Jos Zigmantas, Donatas van Grondelle, Rienk
author_sort	Romero, Elisabet
title	Quantum Coherence in Photosynthesis for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion
title_short	Quantum Coherence in Photosynthesis for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion
title_full	Quantum Coherence in Photosynthesis for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion
title_fullStr	Quantum Coherence in Photosynthesis for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion
title_full_unstemmed	Quantum Coherence in Photosynthesis for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion
title_sort	quantum coherence in photosynthesis for efficient solar energy conversion
description	The crucial step in the conversion of solar to chemical energy in Photosynthesis takes place in the reaction center where the absorbed excitation energy is converted into a stable charge separated state by ultrafast electron transfer events. However, the fundamental mechanism responsible for the near unity quantum efficiency of this process is unknown. Here we elucidate the role of coherence in determining the efficiency of charge separation in the plant photosystem II reaction centre (PSII RC) by comprehensively combining experiment (two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy) and theory (Redfield theory). We reveal the presence of electronic coherence between excitons as well as between exciton and charge transfer states which we argue to be maintained by vibrational modes. Furthermore, we present evidence for the strong correlation between the degree of electronic coherence and efficient and ultrafast charge separation. We propose that this coherent mechanism will inspire the development of new energy technologies.
publishDate	2014
url	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4746732/
_version_	1613535916707545088

Quantum Coherence in Photosynthesis for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion

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