What if humans could replicate how plants generate energy and use that energy to power the world?
In a publication in Nature last week, a research team from the University of Cambridge announced they have created a prototype of a device capable of converting energy from sunlight and water.
An “artificial leaf” floating on the River Cam near King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, UK – (Photo: Virgil Andrei)
“Our artificial leaf works similarly to a leaf from a plant,” said Dr. Virgil Andrei, a researcher at the University of Cambridge and one of the co-authors of the study, in an email. “However, instead of producing sugars, we are generating useful chemicals.”
The leaves created by Andrei and his colleagues are not solar panels. To clarify, this technology uses sunlight to create a type of chemical reaction, which in this case produces the necessary materials for liquid fuels.
The leaves mimic the process of photosynthesis in plants by using two different types of fuel cells made from lead perovskite (a type of solar cell) to produce synthesis gas.
Synthesis gas is a combination of hydrogen and carbon monoxide molecules, which are crucial components in many industrial production processes. Synthesis gas can also be used as a fuel source, with hopes of potentially replacing fuels used in aviation and automotive industries in the future.
However, synthesis gas is typically produced using fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, which still have significant environmental impacts. This artificial leaf is hoped to replace synthesis gas, eliminating the associated environmental issues.
The Cambridge research team developed an earlier version of the leaf in 2019, which could generate the components of synthesis gas from sunlight. However, that technology was too expensive and bulky, severely limiting its practical applications and confining it to specific locations.
“Most artificial leaves are quite complex and can only produce fuel on a small laboratory scale,” Dr. Andrei explained.
“Here, we aimed to redesign the structure of the leaf so that it could be used more widely, suitable for practical applications. For this purpose, we reduced the weight of the device by placing light-absorbing materials on thinner and more flexible substrates. As a result, our devices became lightweight enough to float on water, similar to lotus leaves,” he added.
Scientists have practically tested the artificial leaf and reported it could be used to supply fuel for boats or for people living on small islands – (Photo: Virgil Andrei)
Dr. Andrei stated that the new versions are still prototypes and need to undergo further testing to ensure they will perform well in real-world conditions. However, the design of this new leaf promises to open up a bright future for technology.
“These leaves can be assembled into large arrays, placed on lakes, rivers, and coastlines. They are flexible, lightweight, and can be easily transported to remote areas like islands, allowing fuel production in various locations rather than being concentrated in a fixed area.
The leaves can also utilize polluted water bodies such as mining lakes or areas near ports. Furthermore, they can help prevent evaporation from irrigation channels, which is particularly relevant during prolonged heatwaves and droughts like the current situation,” the researcher discussed the potential applications.
