A strange quantum effect dramatically boosts energy transfer

Electron and proton motion often work together in both living systems and engineered materials. The most familiar example is proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET), a process that plays a central role in bioenergetics, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and nitrogen fixation. PCET has also influenced the design of many artificial materials used for energy conversion and storage. More recently, scientists identified another related process known as proton-coupled singlet energy ...