Reinventing the leaf

• Autores: Antonio Regalado
• Localización: Scientific American, ISSN 0036-8733, Vol. 303, Nº. 4, 2010, págs. 86-89
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The article discusses research investigating the development of artificial leaves that act like natural leaves. Plants produce their own natural energy through photosynthesis, which is a process that converts sunlight, air, and water into fuel, without producing harmful emissions. An overview of artificial leaves that can similarly convert sunlight and water into hydrogen fuel that could be used to create heat, generate electricity, or power automobiles is presented. Topics include a discussion on the use of nanomaterials in solar-fuel technology, such as thin, flexible sheets of silicon nanowires and cheap catalysts, to help generate hydrogen efficiently. INSET: Solar Nanowires Mimic Nature.