Using special X-rays, we succeeded in capturing part of the process in which oxygen molecules are created from water molecules during photosynthesis. It is expected that this will lead to the elucidation of the detailed mechanism of photosynthetic reactions.
Research will be applied to research on artificial photosynthesis, which is attracting attention as a clean energy source. The research result was published in the international scientific journal Nature by a research group led by Professor Shen Jianren of Okayama University. It is known that a substance in which atoms such as manganese are bonded in a ''warped chair'' shape acts as a catalyst and takes in water.