Floating Photoelectrochemical artificial leaves for scalable solar fuel production

Researchers, from the University of Cambridge, have developed Photoelectrochemical artificial leaves that hold the potential to lower the costs of sustainable solar fuel production by integrating light harvesting and catalysis within one compact device. Bubbles formed under operation enabled the devices to float, while lightweight reactors facilitated gas collection during outdoor testing on a river. This leaf-like PEC device bridges the gulf in weight between traditional solar fuel approaches, showcasing activities per gram comparable to those of photocatalytic suspensions and plant leaves. The presented lightweight, floating systems may enable open-water applications, thus avoiding competition with land use. Tests of the new artificial leaves showed that they can split water into hydrogen and oxygen, or reduce CO2 to syngas. These leaves could supply coastal settlements, remote islands, cover industrial ponds, or avoid water evaporation from irrigation canals and produced solar fuel.



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