“bionic leaf”

A team of scientists from Harvard University has created a unique “bionic leaf” that uses solar energy to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen, and hydrogen-eating bacteria to produce liquid fuels from CO2. Dubbed “bionic leaf 2.0,” the new system can convert solar energy to biomass with 10 percent efficiency – a number far higher than the one per cent seen in the fastest growing plants. While the study shows the system can be used to generate usable fuels, its potential doesn’t end there. In many ways, the new system fulfills the promise of his “artificial leaf” which used solar power to split water and make hydrogen fuel. Scientists used a new cobalt-phosphorous alloy catalyst for this experiment.