Cited by 1,915Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical StudiesPhotosynthetic Processes and MechanismsPhotochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies

Lessons from nature about solar light harvesting

Scholes, Gregory D., Fleming, Graham R., Olaya-Castro, Alexandra, van Grondelle, Rienk·2011·Nature Chemistry

Abstract

Solar fuel production often starts with the energy from light being absorbed by an assembly of molecules; this electronic excitation is subsequently transferred to a suitable acceptor. For example, in photosynthesis, antenna complexes capture sunlight and direct the energy to reaction centres that then carry out the associated chemistry. In this Review, we describe the principles learned from studies of various natural antenna complexes and suggest how to elucidate strategies for designing light-harvesting systems. We envisage that such systems will be used for solar fuel production, to direct and regulate excitation energy flow using molecular organizations that facilitate feedback and control, or to transfer excitons over long distances. Also described are the notable properties of light-harvesting chromophores, spatial-energetic landscapes, the roles of excitonic states and quantum coherence, as well as how antennas are regulated and photoprotected.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nchem.1145

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  • Electron tunneling has been observed in biological systems.

    “quantum phenomena such as electron tunneling [6, 7] have been observed in biological systems”

    From Vibrations, quanta and biology (2013) · cites this paper as [6]

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Authors
Scholes, G. D., Fleming, G. R., Olaya-Castro, A., & van Grondelle, R.
Affiliations
  • University of Toronto (CA)
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
  • University College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Scholes, Gregory D.
Venue
Nature Chemistry
Published
2011-09-23
Volume
3
Issue
10
Pages
763-774
ISSN
  • 1755-4330 (ISSN-L)
  • 1755-4349
OpenAlex
W2150852355
Cited by
1,915
References
150
Citations by year
2026: 98 · 2025: 128 · 2024: 123 · 2023: 108 · 2022: 124 · 2021: 126 · 2020: 130 · 2019: 124 · 2018: 131 · 2017: 166 · 2016: 147 · 2015: 163 · 2014: 137 · 2013: 116 · 2012: 88
FWCI
8.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Chemistry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/G005222/1)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies
Keywords
light-harvesting complexes, photosynthesis, solar light harvesting, excitation energy transfer, solar fuels, excitonic states, quantum coherence, photoprotection
MeSH terms
Quantum Theory, Solar Energy, Sunlight, Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer, Photosystem I Protein Complex, Photosystem II Protein Complex, Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes

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