Research on "Artificial Leaf"
Source: NTU Jan/Feb 2011
An "artificial leaf" that will be able to split water into hydrogen and oxygen with solar energy. The hydrogen produced can be then be used as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels.
This is trying to address the energy needs of the ever-growing global population and the ever-increasing demand for energy per capita. This is closely related to the problem of carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and the resulting greenhouse effect.
What it is: A leaf abosorbs sunlight and extracts hydrogen out of water, releasing oxygen. That's how nature has solved the energy problem. We're trying to replicate this process.
How this process works: First, we use solar energy to split water into oxgyen and hydrogen. Now, the hydrogen we get from this process is energy-rich. We can wither burn t with oxygen again to get the energy "out" or we can use it as an energy source to drive a chemical reaction. For example, the hydrogen could be combined with carbon dioxide to form an organic fuel, such as methanol or ethanol.
We could use wind, hydroelectric and fossil fuel energy, but this last option would still leave us with the problem of fossil fuels releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
In any case, what is the one energy source we do have that is abundant and evenly distributed around the world? Sunlight! One hour of sunlight is equal to all the energy consumed by the human race in a year! That's why the initiation of this research programme at NTU's Solar Fuels Laboratory.
An "artificial leaf" that will be able to split water into hydrogen and oxygen with solar energy. The hydrogen produced can be then be used as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels.
This is trying to address the energy needs of the ever-growing global population and the ever-increasing demand for energy per capita. This is closely related to the problem of carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and the resulting greenhouse effect.
What it is: A leaf abosorbs sunlight and extracts hydrogen out of water, releasing oxygen. That's how nature has solved the energy problem. We're trying to replicate this process.
How this process works: First, we use solar energy to split water into oxgyen and hydrogen. Now, the hydrogen we get from this process is energy-rich. We can wither burn t with oxygen again to get the energy "out" or we can use it as an energy source to drive a chemical reaction. For example, the hydrogen could be combined with carbon dioxide to form an organic fuel, such as methanol or ethanol.
We could use wind, hydroelectric and fossil fuel energy, but this last option would still leave us with the problem of fossil fuels releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
In any case, what is the one energy source we do have that is abundant and evenly distributed around the world? Sunlight! One hour of sunlight is equal to all the energy consumed by the human race in a year! That's why the initiation of this research programme at NTU's Solar Fuels Laboratory.