Integrated Artificial Photosynthesis Nanosystem: Uses Solar for Water-Splitting -- Dubbed 'Artificial Forest'

Intergrated nanoscale artificial
photosynthesis system -- photo: phy.org

Researchers working with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have developed the world's first integrated nanosystem for artificial photosynthesis. Popularly called the 'artificial leaf' but the team actually developed an 'artificial forest'.
A staggering report on the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere surpassed 400 parts per million for the first time since 1958 according to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). A publication in this May's issue of 'nano Letters' detail a scientific breakthrough that may advance our pace in developing carbon-neutral renewable energy sources.
The sunlight-to-fuel conversion process uses Artificial photosynthesis which imitates nature by using an integrated system of nanostructures. Simulating the photosynthetic system in the chloroplast, this system uses two semiconductor light absorbers with an inter-facial layer for charge transport that facilitates water reduction and oxidation.
While trying to spare us physico-chemical details Peidong Yang, the lead chemist at Berkeley Lab's Materials Sciences Division said -- "In natural photosynthesis the energy of absorbed sunlight produces energized charge-carriers that execute chemical reactions in separate regions of the chloroplast,"..."We've integrated our nanowire nanoscale heterostructure into a functional system that mimics the integration in chloroplasts and provides a conceptual blueprint for better solar-to-fuel conversion efficiencies in the future." (ref).
Under simulated sunlight, a conversion efficiency of 0.12% is achieved. The researchers are very optimistic this provides a conceptual blueprint for modular design with improved performance.
Original Publication: nano Letters