Ratchet energy storage mechanism

What are the two main ratchet mechanisms?

Regardless of the energy source, there are two main ratchet mechanisms: energy and information ratchets. The term “energy ratchet” comes from the fact that the energy of the intermediates of the cycle is important in dictating the directionality of the network.

How do information ratchets work?

Information ratchets operate on principles different from energy ratchets. In an idealized case, they operate under steady-state conditions, thus not relying on any alternation of stimuli, but on harvesting a constant energy supply. For example, a frequent energy source in biological settings is the ΔG associated with the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP.

How do ratchet mechanisms rectify chemical reactions?

All ratchet mechanisms rectify chemical reactions by coupling two distinct reactions: a driving one—which provides energy by proceeding towards equilibrium—and a driven one—which absorbs part of the energy to proceed against the thermodynamic potential. These two reactions must be part of the same reaction network.

How does a ratcheted synthesis harness energy?

A ratcheted synthesis, meanwhile, harnesses energy by rectifying a process that does not directly involve functional groups transformed in the fuel-to-waste reaction (Fig. 1d), with the energy released along reaction coordinate 2 (fuel-to-waste) biasing the distribution of the chemical transformation along reaction coordinate 1.

Are energy ratchet mechanisms sustainable?

At a more general level, we note that energy ratchet mechanisms rely on fluctuating environments. Therefore, they may help to design systems that harvest energy from small fluctuations. Such devices have a huge potential for the realization of sustainable technology.

How do energy ratchets work?

Energy ratchets typically function by repetitively ‘flashing’ (that is, switching) between two discrete energy profiles 5 (see Box 1). However, it is also possible to increase the complexity of the number and pattern of the energy profiles with respect to time.