Sunlight and Water Transform Waste into Energy and Pharmaceuticals
Artificial Photosynthesis
(Illustration: Nagoya University)
February 28, 2025 – A research team at Nagoya University has developed an innovative method that harnesses sunlight and water to produce energy and valuable organic compounds – including pharmaceutical ingredients – from waste organic materials.
This technique, called APOS (Artificial Photosynthesis directed toward Organic Synthesis), is based on artificial photosynthesis. The researchers highlight a variety of potential applications. In experiments, they used different organic feedstocks to synthesize more than 25 alcohol and ether compounds with diverse functional groups, including an antidepressant and a hay fever medication.
Their study was published in Nature Communications on February 27 under the title ‘Artificial Photosynthesis Directed Toward Organic Synthesis.’
