Jiansen Lu
Artificial leaves using silicon solar cell
October 2nd 2011 16:58
The research team headed by Dr. Daniel Nocera at MIT has produced an “artificial leaf” which turned solar energy to chemical fuel like living green leaves. On each side of the artificial leaf, a silicon solar cell with different catalytic materials is bonded. By putting the artificial leaf in a container of water and expose it to sunlight, oxygen bubbles are produced from one side and hydrogen bubbles from the other. The oxygen and hydrogen can be collected for delivering power later.
Artificial Leaf
The new device is not yet ready for commercial production as collecting and using these oxygen and hydrogen bubbles are still under development. But in future oxygen and hydrogen gas can be fed to a fuel cell to generate electricity.
Video 1: BREAKTHROUGH: Could an Artificial Leaf Power Your Home?
Video 2: Artificial Leaf at MIT
An "artificial leaf" made by Daniel Nocera and his team, using a silicon solar cell with novel catalyst materials bonded to its two sides, is shown in a container of water with light (simulating sunlight) shining on it. The light generates a flow of electricity that causes the water molecules, with the help of the catalysts, to split into oxygen and hydrogen, which bubble up from the two surfaces.
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