Researchers led by MIT professor Daniel Nocera have announced the creation of “artificial leaves” that can convert the energy of sunlight directly into a chemical fuel that can be stored and used later as an energy source. The leaf uses abundant material and could prove a breakthrough in the search for new fuel systems.
The artificial leaf is a a silicon solar cell with different catalytic materials bonded onto its two sides. If you simply place the leaf in water, it generate streams of oxygen bubbles from one side and hydrogen bubbles from the other. No wires or control circuits needed.
It is perfect timing to watch the silicon leaves falling from the trees around MIT with the arrival of autumn.
Source: Science Blog
I await the day that Arabs run out of water, and we can form the Organization of Water Exporting Countries (the region formerly known as the Great Lakes States.) We’ll have hold a few barrels back from time to time, so they don’t take us for granted.
T. Boone Pickens is not going to be pleased.
If leaves were good enough for Adam and Eve, they’re good enough for us.
You are right Mespo. Unless it tells us we can use “magic leaves” in the bible, we just can’t take advantage of that scientific success.
Damn intellectual elite coming up with innovative solutions to cure our “insurmountable” problems. Don’t they know our’s is a trail of woe and suffering. Can’t they see that progress is an illusion and we have to place our faith in powers higher than our own collective intellect. When will they learn and see the light from above?
I wouldn’t hold my breath unless the oil companies get to take over production, make it of a material that will need to be replaced every couple years and charge us for the fuel it takes to produce them, as well as a conversion charge for the machinery and other expenses involved in production.
And don’t forget the accessory equiptment. If you have leaves you’ll need a tree to hang them from.
OS,
We must have been on the same page….Just like Mega Pharmacology does not want marijuana for common use for some aches and pains….The Petro business will figure out a way to stiffle any and all competition….I wonder how far the electric auto would be but for them….
Good news. Hydrogen is pure fuel and oxygen is…well…the oxidizer. It does not get more efficient than that. This has the potential to be a game changer. When you burn O2 and H, it converts it back to H2O and the exhaust is nothing but water vapor. No pollutants at all unless there are traces of lubricant in it.
Now let’s see how fast Big Oil tries to either neutralize it or block implementation.
The Tea Party has come out against this because…….well because it’s the Tea Party!
Exciting news. Now lets produce the technology to utilize this discovery and create jobs, here!
The main byproduct of burning hydrogen is water vapor — how cool is that?
AY:
Yep. It’s a game changer provided a comparative advantage in environmental and economic costs with present or future alternatives.
Hydrogen burns clean. Combustible engines can be converted; current technology already exists to build hydrogen engines. Seems to be a problem with explosions (think Hindenburg). Hydrogen can also be used in fuel cells to generate electricity for next gen Leafs and Volts.
What’s the response of fossi fuel industries — buy up all the patents and shelve them? Probably not. Start creating reservoirs all over the land? Someone will. And there is always plastic. And this:
http://futureoftech.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/03/8125199-renewable-rubber-highlights-new-economy
I’m in awe of such creativity.
while this is semi-good news you do have to ask, “what are the results of burning the fuel”?
If we could turn sand into cheap gasoline it would still lead to more greenhouse gases that will take us out sooner than a lack of oil.
Oro,
You are correct….But will it disrupt the natural order of things….
“Well…since it a naturally occurring element….at least its not pollution…:
FWIW, a pollutant can be naturally occurring [carbon dioxide] even if it is an element [merury]. Is it anthropogenic? There’s the rub.
However, this may very well be a big deal — cheap, clean energy. What, however, will happen to the cost of water?
oops … typo …
Excellent!
Exellent.
I hope that they develop this as rapidly as possible. It is a real breakthrough and it should be able to come to market quickly once they figure out how to make it more efficient.
Wow,
If you simply place the leaf in water, it generate streams of oxygen bubbles from one side and hydrogen bubbles from the other. No wires or control circuits needed.
Well…since it a naturally occurring element….at least its not pollution…