05/02/11 1:52pm

Article By: Katerva

In mimicking what plants do best, a group of MIT chemists led by Dr. Dan Nocera has developed the first artificial leaf that can feasibly convert sunlight and water to energy in an affordable and accessible way.

Simulating photosynthesis’ elegant system for transforming sun and water into electricity has long been a scientific conundrum.  The Nocera lab has been working over the years to solve this challenge and now has developed a playing card-sized “leaf” that is similar to its natural counterpart in function than in appearance.

A thin sheet of metal, electronics, and synthetically-created catalysts are all that are needed to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen, which then can be stored conveniently in a fuel cell for electricity generation.

The device has several advantages over previous prototypes.  It is made from available and inexpensive materials – nickel, silicon, cobalt – that make it easier for fabrication and distribution worldwide.  It can also operate for 45 hours continuously and is about ten times more efficient at photosynthesis than nature herself.

Float the leaf in a single gallon of water left in direct sunlight, and the device could fulfill a day’s worth of electricity for a house in the developing world.  Instead of relying on limited energy grids, rural villages could run off their own decentralized energy sources.

Nocera first announced these groundbreaking innovations in March to the American Chemical Society in Anaheim, California.  He envisions this invention powering every household and illuminating even the darkest corners of India and Africa.

To develop the artificial leaf into a commercially-viable product, Nocera founded a company called Sun Catalytix that is working with the Indian conglomerate Tata Group to build a small power plant with this technology.

Watch Dr. Nocera explain the innovations behind the artificial leaf below:

This is a cross-post from Katerva.org.

Katerva identifies and awards the world's best sustainability ideas and initiatives. The Katerva Awards celebrate radical innovation and accelerate change for a sustainable planet.

Original Post: http://katerva.org/nominees/artificial-leaf-transforms-sun-to-energy/