Researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University of California -- Berkeley have developed an "artificial leaf" that mimics plant photosynthesis to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into sustainable fuels.
The device uses copper "nano-flowers" and a crystalline compound called perovskite to produce cleaner hydrocarbons, similar to those in fossil fuels, but without the negative environmental impact. The perovskite absorbs sunlight, which then powers the copper nanoflowers to catalyze the transformation of CO2 and water into hydrocarbons like ethane and ethylene.
The addition of silicon nanowire electrodes and glycerol has improved the device's efficiency by 200 times, also producing valuable chemical byproducts such as glycerate, lactate, and formate.