Perspectives for photobiology in molecular solar fuels

This paper presents an overview of the prospects for bio-solar energy conversion. The Global Artificial Photosynthesis meeting at Lord Howe Island (1418 August 2011) underscored the dependence that the world has placed on non-renewable energy supplies, particularly for transport fuels, and highlighted the potential of solar energy. Biology has used solar energy for free energy gain to drive chemical reactions for billions of years. The principal conduits for energy conversion on earth are photosynthetic reaction centres but can they be harnessed, copied and emulated? In this communication, we initially discuss algal-based biofuels before investigating bio-inspired solar energy conversion in artificial and engineered systems. We show that the basic design and engineering principles for assembling photocatalytic proteins can be used to assemble nanocatalysts for solar fuel production.