The invention of an artificial leaf that could create liquid fuels out of CO2, water, and sunlight would be one of the most important and impactful energy breakthroughs in human history.
Using artificial photosynthesis to create what are called solar fuels would allow for the economical and efficient storage of solar energy and production of carbon-neutral fuels to be used in transportation. Carbon neutral means the production of these fuels would capture just as much CO2 as they emit when burned - essentially recycling the same emissions over and over again. That’s a big step towards being carbon negative.
In this article, you’ll learn about the work of two scientists on opposite sides of the country, Nate Lewis and Dan Nocera, who are pioneers when it comes to artificial photosynthesis.