Artificial Leaves and Climate Change
New Artificial Leaves Convert CO2 into Oxygen 10X's Better Than Real Ones
Learning from Nature and Improving on It
Leaves convert CO2 into oxygen making the world a greener place. Learning from the natural process of photosynthesis, engineers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have improved on the natural process by ten times. They've created innovative artificial leaves.
Artificial Leaf Technology
The engineers have invented an artificial, semipermeable membrane that allows water to evaporate in sunlight. During the process, the water pulls CO2 out of the air. Then an artificial photosynthetic unit converts the CO2 into oxygen and carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide is collected and used to make synthetic fuels. The oxygen goes back into the air.
A First
What's new and a first is this artificial leaf technology works outside in the real world and just like a natural leaf. Other attempts at this have only worked in the lab.
Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The team says this new technology can play a significant role in cutting greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. If the leaves were to cover a 500 meter square area, the system would cut CO2 levels by 10%. What's more the system is made from readily available materials.
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| Source: University of Illinois at Chicago |
Learning from Nature and Improving on It
Leaves convert CO2 into oxygen making the world a greener place. Learning from the natural process of photosynthesis, engineers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have improved on the natural process by ten times. They've created innovative artificial leaves.
Artificial Leaf Technology
The engineers have invented an artificial, semipermeable membrane that allows water to evaporate in sunlight. During the process, the water pulls CO2 out of the air. Then an artificial photosynthetic unit converts the CO2 into oxygen and carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide is collected and used to make synthetic fuels. The oxygen goes back into the air.
A First
What's new and a first is this artificial leaf technology works outside in the real world and just like a natural leaf. Other attempts at this have only worked in the lab.
Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The team says this new technology can play a significant role in cutting greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. If the leaves were to cover a 500 meter square area, the system would cut CO2 levels by 10%. What's more the system is made from readily available materials.
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