This artificial leaf makes hydrocarbons out of carbon dioxide

The group’s device produces ethylene and ethane, proving that artificial leaves can create hydrocarbons. The development could offer a cheaper, cleaner way to make fuels, chemicals, and plastics. For research lead Virgil Andrei at the University of Cambridge, the ultimate goal is to use this technology to create fuels that don’t leave a harmful carbon footprint after they’re burned. If the process uses carbon dioxide captured from the air or power plants, the resulting fuels could be carbon neutral—and ease the need to keep digging up fossil fuels. “Eventually we want to be able to source carbon dioxide to produce the fuels and chemicals that we need for industry and for everyday lives,” says Andrei, who coauthored a study published in Nature Catalysis in February. “You end up mimicking nature’s own carbon cycle, so you don’t need additional fossil resources.” Copper nanoflowers Like other artificial leaves, the team’s device harnesses energy from the sun to create chemical product ... Read full article.