Chlorophyll enters an excited state when the right frequency of light interacts with it. Photovoltaics operate on a similar principle, though it would be a stretch to say they were designed “in the image” of chlorophyll.
Photovoltaics harness sunlight more cheaply and efficiently than manufactured chlorophyll. Once the sunlight is harnessed, you can do whatever you want with it such as sequestering carbon dioxide.
The only advantage chlorophyll-based sunlight harvesting has over photovoltaics is that plants are easy to grow. Manufacturing chlorophyll in a laboratory would buy the inefficiency of plants at the price of inorganic manufacturing. It’s the worst of both worlds.
On the other hand, chlorophyll is used as a method of carbon sequestration. This is called “growing forests”.
Chlorophyll enters an excited state when the right frequency of light interacts with it. Photovoltaics operate on a similar principle, though it would be a stretch to say they were designed “in the image” of chlorophyll.
Photovoltaics harness sunlight more cheaply and efficiently than manufactured chlorophyll. Once the sunlight is harnessed, you can do whatever you want with it such as sequestering carbon dioxide.
The only advantage chlorophyll-based sunlight harvesting has over photovoltaics is that plants are easy to grow. Manufacturing chlorophyll in a laboratory would buy the inefficiency of plants at the price of inorganic manufacturing. It’s the worst of both worlds.
On the other hand, chlorophyll is used as a method of carbon sequestration. This is called “growing forests”.