Session B8
6081
Disclaimer — This paper partially fulfills a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper
is based on publicly available information and may not be provide complete analyses of all relevant data. If this paper is used
for any purpose other than these authors’ partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering
students at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk.
ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND THE REDUCTION OF CARBON
DIOXIDE EMISSION
Colin Whelan, cjw73@pitt.edu, Mena 4:00, Lydia Kuebler ljk49@pitt.edu, Vidic 2:00
Revised Proposal — In March of 2015, the United States
Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that 95%
of the US transportation sector uses fossil fuels as its main
energy source [1]. Although renewable energy fuels and
processes are advancing in the country, inefficiencies and
costs deem them impractical and unrealistic. This paper will
discuss the process of artificial photosynthesis using
semiconducting nanowire-bacteria hybrid systems to produce
solar fuels. Artificial photosynthesis is the chemical process
that replicates natural photosynthesis by capturing sunlight
with solar-power systems and producing hydrogen in
molecules. The challenge of the process is splitting the water
molecules to get the electrons needed to carry out the
production of hydrogen. In 2014, Dr. Peidong Yang and other
researchers at UC Berkeley created a hybrid system of
semiconducting nanowires and bacteria that mimic the
process of photosynthesis [2]. The system synthesizes carbon
dioxide and water into acetate and other chemical products,
such as liquid fuels and hydrocarbons [3]. The hydrogen
formed from this water-splitting method would reduce carbon
dioxide fuels that are emitted during natural photosynthesis
and create a more sustainable environment.
As earth’s population and society’s reliance on mobility and
technology increases, energy consumption and carbon
emission rise with it. [4]. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency, carbon dioxide emissions in the United
States have increased by about 7% between 1990 and 2013
[5]. This growing percentage negatively impacts not only the
environment, but also human health. Stanford scientist, Mark
Jacobson, researched a correlation between increased
carbon levels and increased human mortality, reporting that
for each increase of one degree Celsius caused by carbon
dioxide, the resulting air pollution would lead to about one
thousand deaths [6]. These statistics emphasize the positive
impact that advancements in artificial photosynthesis can
have on the environment and human population by reducing
carbon dioxide emission. Research and development of
artificial photosynthesis using semiconductor nanowires by
engineers and scientists will help create a cleaner, more
sustainable atmosphere.
This paper will introduce the system of artificial
photosynthesis and how it replicates the natural process of
photosynthesis. Although the paper will highlight the different
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering 1
January 29, 2016
methods in which the process is carried out, its main focus
will be the application of nanowire-bacteria hybrid systems.
The paper will then emphasize the significance of artificial
photosynthesis on the environment and society by creating a
more efficient and cost-effective method of producing
renewable energy fuels. It will consider the ethical issues in
carrying out this process as well.
REFERENCES
[1] Energy Information Administration. (2015). “Fossil
Fuels.” Institute of Energy Research. (Website).
http://instituteforenergyresearch.org/topics/encyclopedia/fos
sil-fuels/
[2] C. Liu. (2015). “Nanowire-Bacteria Hybrids for
Unassisted Solar Carbon Dioxide to Value-Added
Chemicals.”
NanoLetters.
(Online
Article).
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b01254.
[3] W.Song. (2011). “Making Solar Fuels by Artificial
Photosynthesis.”
IUPAC.
(Online
Article).
http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/pac.2011.83.issue-4/paccon-10-11-09/pac-con-10-11-09.xml
[4] S. Bonke. (2015). “Renewable Fuels from Concentrated
Solar Power: Towards Practical Artificial Photosynthesis.”
Energy and Environmental Science. (Online Article).
http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2015/ee/c5ee02214b
[5] EPA. (2015). “Carbon Dioxide Emissions.” United States
Environmental
Protection
Agency.
(Website).
http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2
.html
[6] M. Jacobson. (2008). “On the causal link between carbon
dioxide and air pollution mortality.” Geophysical Research
Letters. (Online Article).
http://web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/V/200
7GL031101.pdf
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
S. Bonke. (2015). “Renewable Fuels from Concentrated Solar
Power: Towards Practical Artificial Photosynthesis.” Energy
and Environmental Science. (Online Article).
http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2015/ee/c5ee02214b
Colin Whelan
Lydia Kuebler
This article was published by the Royal Society of
Chemistry, which is dedicated to sharing innovative, unbiased
information. It demonstrates what scientists have deemed the
most efficient artificial photosynthesis process thus far. By
utilizing electrolytes and cell-matching, this system is capable
of large scale implementation. Since this method is boasted as
the most efficient, this article will help us discuss the
importance of efficiency when devising such a complex
system.
and Artificial Photosynthesis (Global Solar Fuels and
Foods).” Springer Science and Business Media. (Online
Article).
http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/command/detail?sid=f65d
4c81-e785-48a6-bca104df5bc4f65b%40sessionmgr114&vid=5&hid=118
This article, from a journal which provides a forum for
informed discussion of ethical and social concerns related to
nanotechnology, explores practical steps in which
nanotechnology can be applied to artificial photosynthesis for
the localized production of fuel and carbohydrate-based
fertilizer. It also explores the ethics that should underpin
global use of this technology. This source will help us analyze
the usefulness and ethics of using nanotechnology for
artificial photosynthesis.
N. Dasgupta. (2014). “Semiconductor Nanowires for
Artificial Photosynthesis.” Chemistry of Materials. (Online
Article).
https://www.engineeringvillage.com/search/doc/abstract.url?
pageType=quickSearch&searchtype=Quick&SEARCHID=2
56e9fc1M32f7M461aMa7bdM9ebfaf0aed75&DOCINDEX
=1&database=3&format=quickSearchAbstractFormat&dedu
pResultCount=&SEARCHID=256e9fc1M32f7M461aMa7b
dM9ebfaf0aed75
This online article, from a journal that publishes original
contributions to forefront research in chemistry, discusses
current challenges in artificial photosynthesis research,
focusing on the benefits of nanotechnology. The source also
presents different directions of research on the nanowire
design scheme, highlighting the progress it has made in this
area. This article will help us emphasize the efficiency and
practicality of using nanowires over other proposed methods.
M. Jacobson. (2008). “On the Causal Link Between Carbon
Dioxide and Air Pollution Mortality.” Geophysical Research
Letters. (Online Article).
http://web.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/V/200
7GL031101.pdf
This article, from one of the largest, most reputable
geoscience disciplinary journals, relies on major scientific
advances such as this artificial photosynthesis. In discussing
carbon dioxide’s role in global warming, the urgency to find
a way to combat potential fatalities in already polluted areas
is severe. This source is useful because it clearly states the
detrimental effects of carbon dioxide emission and proves that
global warming is indeed dangerous.
Energy Information Administration. (2015). “Fossil Fuels.”
Institute
of
Energy
Research.
(Website).
http://instituteforenergyresearch.org/topics/encyclopedia/fos
sil-fuels/
This website is home to the Institute of Energy Research,
which focuses on how the United States uses its resources as
well as new sustainable energy topics. The page we focused
on provides accurate statistics in regards to US consumption
of its natural resources. This website is useful because it helps
emphasize why sustainable fuels need to be utilized and how
the current fuels are detrimental to the environment.
C. Liu. (2015). “Nanowire-Bacteria Hybrids for Unassisted
Solar Carbon Dioxide to Value-Added Chemicals.”
NanoLetters.
(Online
Article).
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b01254.
This article is from an online journal that reports on
fundamental research in all branches of the theory and
practice of nanoscience. It gives a detailed explanation of Dr.
Yang’s research and application of semiconducting
nanowires to artificial engineering. It also presents the
procedure step-by-step. This source will help us clearly
explain to readers how nanotechnology is effectively applied
to artificial photosynthesis to reduce carbon dioxide emission.
EPA. (2015). “Carbon Dioxide Emissions.” United States
Environmental
Protection
Agency.
(Website).
http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2
.html
This is the official website of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency, which is an agency geared
toward protecting human health and the environment. The
website gives a detailed description of carbon dioxide gas and
the different ways it is emitted into the atmosphere. This
website will provide us with evidence to stress the need to
reduce carbon dioxide emission and present the negative
effects of it.
W.Song. (2011). “Making Solar Fuels by Artificial
Photosynthesis.”
IUPAC.
(Online
Article).
http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/pac.2011.83.issue-4/paccon-10-11-09/pac-con-10-11-09.xml
This article, published in the official journal of the IUPAC,
discusses another technique of artificial photosynthesis. The
alternative method focuses on dye-sensitized solar cells and
water oxidation catalysis, known as the “modular approach.”
In explaining this technique, we are able to analyze the
multiple options of artificial photosynthesis as well as
compare which one is most effective in producing solar fuels.
T. Faunce. (2012). “Governing Planetary Nanomedicine:
Environmental Sustainability and a UNESCO Universal
Declaration on the Bioethics and Human Rights of Natural
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Colin Whelan
Lydia Kuebler
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