Synthetic Molecular Rings Re-Create Energy Flow Found in Plants

Synthetic molecular rings re-create energy flow found in plants

Plants mastered the art of harvesting sunlight billions of years ago, using elegant rings of pigments in their leaves. Now, researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have taken a major step toward mimicking that leafy architecture with human-made molecules that self-assemble into stacked rings where charge and energy can circulate freely—just like in photosynthesis.

Highly efficient photosynthesis of syngas and pinacol from CO₂ and 1-phenylethanol via amine-regulated redox pathways

Integrating photocatalytic CO2 reduction with oxidative organic synthesis offers a promising policy for maximizing charge carrier utilization, enabling the simultaneous production of solar fuels and fine chemicals. Herein, highly efficient photoredox catalysis of CO2 redu...

Synthetic rings imitate plant energy systems with molecular precision

Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 28, 2025 Plants have long inspired scientists with their remarkable ability to convert sunlight into energy through intricately organized pigment rings. Now, researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have successfully emulated this architecture with synthetic molecules that self-assemble into stacked rings capable of energy and charge circulation, mimicking photosynthetic processes. Photosynthet

Engineered Molecular Rings Mimic Plant Energy Transfer

In a groundbreaking achievement that bridges molecular chemistry and materials science, researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have unveiled a novel supramolecular architecture emulating nature’s extraordinary light-harvesting systems. By designing flat, dye-like molecules that self-assemble into tightly interlocked rings, the team has demonstrated a first-of-its-kind intermolecular toroidal conjugation, enabling charge and energy to circu…