This artificial leaf makes hydrocarbons out of carbon dioxide
1 min read
Summary
Researchers in the UK and US have developed an experimental “artificial leaf” that can generate hydrocarbons, which could be used as a source of fuel.
By using a specially-designed catalyst made up of copper nanoflowers and light-absorbing silicon nanowires, the device is able to convert carbon dioxide and water into ethylene and ethane, two hydrocarbons each containing two carbon atoms.
While the technology is still some way off commercial viability, the researchers from the University of Cambridge believe it could be ready for use within the next decade, providing a cheaper and cleaner way to make fuels, chemicals and plastics.
“We have been making this progress because we looked at more unconventional concepts and state-of-the-art techniques that were not really available,” said lead researcher Dr Virgil Andrei.