Artificial leaves produce clean liquid fuel for cars

British experts are developing solar-powered artificial leaves that convert CO2 and water into liquid fuels that can be directly fed into car engines.

Artificial leaves are attached to a metal support rod. Photo: Motiar Rahaman

A research team at the University of Cambridge is harnessing the power of photosynthesis – the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy – to transform CO2, water, and sunlight into multi-carbon fuels (including ethanol and propanol) in a single step, the Independent reported on May 18. These fuels have a high energy density, are easy to store and transport. Unlike fossil fuels, they have net carbon emissions of zero and are entirely renewable.

The new fuel also doesn't take up farmland . "Biofuels like ethanol are still controversial, especially because they often take up farmland that could be used for growing food," said Professor Erwin Reisner, head of the research team.

According to the research team, the new artificial leaf is a significant step toward breaking free from a fossil fuel-dependent economy . "Typically, when trying to convert CO2 into another chemical product using artificial leaves, you almost always get CO2 or syngas. But here, we've produced a liquid fuel using only solar energy," said Dr. Motiar Rahaman, a member of the research team.

Bioethanol is considered a cleaner alternative to gasoline because it is produced from plants instead of fossil fuels. Many cars and trucks on the road today run on gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol (E10 fuel).

According to research published in the journal Nature Energy , the new artificial leaf can directly produce pure ethanol and propanol without the intermediate step of creating synthesis gas. Previously, several other research groups have produced similar chemicals using electricity. However, this is the first time such complex chemicals have been produced using artificial leaves powered solely by solar energy.

Currently, the artificial leaf is only a prototype and has shown modest results. The team of scientists is researching ways to improve the light-absorbing components, allowing them to absorb sunlight more effectively, while also optimizing the catalyst to convert more light into fuel.

Thu Thao (According to Independent )

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