The MIT-Developed Artificial Leaf is a Practical Energy Source
Kyle Farquharson — April 17, 2011 — Eco
References: news.discovery & world-science.net
Until now, the role of fake plants has been mainly aesthetic, but a new technology developed by scientists at MIT may play a key role in the energy generation process of the future: a photosynthetic artificial leaf.
While the artificial leaf is not new, having been first developed more than a decade ago, this latest innovation is much more practical than its predecessor, and is constructed from readily available materials instead of rare metals. The role of the artificial leaf is to split water molecules into their component parts -- hydrogen and oxygen -- using photosynthesis. The two gases are then used to power an electrical fuel cell.
"The artificial leaf shows particular promise as an inexpensive source of electricity for homes of the poor in developing countries," says Daniel Nocera, an MIT chemist who led the development of the playing-card-sized leaf. "Our goal is to make each home its own power station.”
Photo Credits: MIT | Kris Krug/Poptech
While the artificial leaf is not new, having been first developed more than a decade ago, this latest innovation is much more practical than its predecessor, and is constructed from readily available materials instead of rare metals. The role of the artificial leaf is to split water molecules into their component parts -- hydrogen and oxygen -- using photosynthesis. The two gases are then used to power an electrical fuel cell.
"The artificial leaf shows particular promise as an inexpensive source of electricity for homes of the poor in developing countries," says Daniel Nocera, an MIT chemist who led the development of the playing-card-sized leaf. "Our goal is to make each home its own power station.”
Photo Credits: MIT | Kris Krug/Poptech
Trend Themes
1. Artificial Photosynthesis - The development of an artificial leaf using readily available materials could lead to breakthroughs in the practical application of artificial photosynthesis as an alternative energy source.
2. Decentralized Energy Production - The MIT-developed playing-card-sized artificial leaf has been hailed as a solution to providing affordable electricity to individual homes in developing countries, paving the way for decentralized energy production.
3. Affordable Renewable Energy - The use of an artificial leaf to generate hydrogen and oxygen which can then power an electrical fuel cell may provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution to the global demand for affordable renewable energy sources.
Industry Implications
1. Energy - The development of an artificial leaf that generates hydrogen and oxygen for energy production could offer disruptive innovation opportunities for the renewable energy sector.
2. Agriculture - The potential of artificial photosynthesis could revolutionize the way we produce food and help address climate change through carbon sequestration, providing new opportunities for the agricultural industry.
3. Technology - The use of readily available materials in the development of the MIT artificial leaf could spur advancements in materials science, contributing to the growth of the technology industry.
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