Scientists at the University of Cambridge and the University of California—Berkeley have developed an innovative system that uses natural-inspired technology to remove CO2 from the air and produce cleaner hydrocarbons. The “artificial leaf” combines perovskite, a crystalline compound, with microscopic copper nanoflowers to create more efficient and complex fuels.
The system absorbs light and CO2 like living plants, but instead of producing oxygen, it converts CO2 into ethane and ethylene using just water as a reactant. Adding glycerol, typically considered waste, improves the reaction rate and increases efficiency by 200 times.
While still in its infancy, this technology has the potential to address climate change-causing carbon emissions. Researchers are optimistic about its future applications and are eager to scale up the device for widespread use.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-reveal-artificial-leaf-turns-123025979.html