Sunlightdriven

Sunlight-driven describes processes, devices, or systems that rely on solar radiation as their energy source. The term is used across science and engineering to denote technologies that harvest light and convert it into electricity, heat, or chemical energy, as well as natural biological processes such as photosynthesis that are powered by light.

Key mechanisms include photovoltaic conversion, photochemical reactions, and solar thermal collection. Photovoltaic cells use semiconductor materials to generate electrical current when exposed to light. In biology, photosynthesis captures light energy to drive the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into sugars and oxygen. Solar thermal systems absorb sunlight to produce heat for space heating, water heating, or steam for electricity generation. Solar-driven photocatalysis explores using light to drive chemical reactions, such as water splitting or pollutant degradation, with catalysts.

Applications span electricity generation for homes and grids, solar heating for buildings and industrial processes, and agricultural or environmental uses that leverage daylight. Advantages include renewable energy supply, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and scalability from small modules to large installations. Limitations involve the intermittent nature of sunlight, the need for energy storage or backup, material costs, and geographic variability in solar availability. Ongoing research focuses on increasing conversion efficiency, reducing costs, and developing durable materials; notable areas include perovskite and tandem solar cells, long-life batteries, and advances in artificial photosynthesis and photocatalysis.