Nathan Sai Kondamuri
Dyer, IN
Grade: 12
This invention aims to integrate various elements of photosynthesis into a solar cell to absorb sunlight and efficiently transform this light energy into electricity in order to compete with fossil fuels. I first tested whether chloroplast cells can act as light absorbing agents. Because chloroplasts are the site at which the light reactions of plant photosynthesis occur, the electron transport chain in Photosystem II is mimicked in this solar cell to allow for an efficient electron flow. Current solar cell technologies do not make efficient use of the visible light spectrum and often have narrow wavelength peaks at which their light absorption is transformed into electricity. My solar cell has proven to be more efficient as well as affordable when compared to other solar cells, fuel cells and biofuel cells, making it a viable option as an energy source today.