Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), creating an artificial leaf that can absorb solar energy and produce electricity. And is claimed as the world’s first artificial leaf that can be a big benefit, the authors describe this finding as a playing card-sized solar cells that mimic the process of photosynthesis in plants.
Artificial leaves is very promising as a source of cheap electricity for the households in developing countries. Only placed in one gallon of water in the sun that shines bright, artificial leaves can supply power for a modest home for one day.
Quoted from Giz Mag, this leaves work by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, then store them in a tank of fuel cells used to generate electricity.
This discovery was made from material that is cheap and widely available, which is based on a new generation of catalysts made of nickel and cobalt. This material is very efficient to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen as well as work on the condition that is simple and very stable.
In an experiment at MIT, the prototype was operated continuously for 45 hours, and no performance decrease. The result is 10 times more efficient in the process of photosynthesis rather than a real leaf.
Harnessing the power of the sun offers us great benefits! It is a great alternative to those environmental damaging sources.