01/05/2025
Scientists at Berkeley Lab, working alongside global collaborators, have created a tiny artificial leaf that can turn carbon dioxide into fuel using nothing but sunlight. About the size of a postage stamp, the device mimics photosynthesis but is designed for large-scale, industrial use. It combines perovskite, a material used in solar cells, with flower-shaped copper catalysts that absorb sunlight and drive chemical reactions. These reactions convert CO2 into carbon-carbon (C2) molecules, key ingredients for making fuel and plastic. Unlike natural leaves, this version is made with sturdy inorganic materials, making it more durable and scalable. Developed under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Liquid Sunlight Alliance, the innovation represents a major leap forward in creating clean, renewable energy from air and sunlight.
