The team’s new analysis shows that efficiencies of 16 percent or more should now be possible
Bringing the concept of an “artificial leaf” closer to reality, a team of researchers at MIT has published a detailed analysis of all the factors that could limit the efficiency of such a system. The new analysis lays out a roadmap for a research program to improve the efficiency of these systems, and could quickly lead to the production of a practical, inexpensive and commercially viable prototype.
Such a system would use sunlight to produce a storable fuel, such as hydrogen, instead of electricity for immediate use. This fuel could then be used on demand to generate electricity through a fuel cell or other device. This process would liberate solar energy for use when the sun isn’t shining, and open up a host of potential new applications.
The new work is described in a paper this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by associate professor of mechanical engineering Tonio Buonassisi, former MIT professor Daniel Nocera (now at Harvard University), MIT postdoc Mark Winkler (now at IBM) and former MIT graduate student Casandra Cox (now at Harvard). It follows up on 2011 research that produced a “proof of concept” of an artificial leaf — a small device that, when placed in a container of water and exposed to sunlight, would produce bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen.
The device combines two technologies: a standard silicon solar cell, which converts sunlight into electricity, and chemical catalysts applied to each side of the cell. Together, these would create an electrochemical device that uses an electric current to split atoms of hydrogen and oxygen from the water molecules surrounding them.
The goal is to produce an inexpensive, self-contained system that could be built from abundant materials. Nocera has long advocated such devices as a means of bringing electricity to billions of people, mostly in the developing world, who now have little or no access to it.
“What’s significant is that this paper really describes all this technology that is known, and what to expect if we put it all together,” Cox says. “It points out all the challenges, and then you can experimentally address each challenge separately.”
Winkler adds that this is a “pretty robust analysis that looked at what’s the best you could do with market-ready technology.”
The original demonstration leaf, in 2011, had low efficiencies, converting less than 4.7 percent of sunlight into fuel, Buonassisi says. But the team’s new analysis shows that efficiencies of 16 percent or more should now be possible using single-bandgap semiconductors, such as crystalline silicon.
“We were surprised, actually,” Winkler says: Conventional wisdom held that the characteristics of silicon solar cells would severely limit their effectiveness in splitting water, but that turned out not to be the case. “You’ve just got to question the conventional wisdom sometimes,” he says.
The Latest Bing News on:
Solar-to-fuel
- Hamilton to ‘flip the switch’ on solar panelson May 28, 2024 at 2:51 am
The Hamilton Unified School District will celebrate a milestone in its infrastructure modernization project Tuesday, unveiling solar panels at Hamilton Elementary School (277 Capay Avenue). The ...
- Access to finance key for solar in small island nationson May 28, 2024 at 2:34 am
Held once a decade since 1994, the fourth International Conference on Small Island developing states (SIDS) began this week in St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda with a strong message: That major changes ...
- Swisshelm Park solar project radiates Pittsburgh’s energy futureon May 28, 2024 at 2:32 am
Some local organizations have made the bet on solar. But Pittsburgh will have to blot out challenges, such as a long line to connect to the grid and a lack of storage solutions for dark hours.
- Dubai builds new $4.2 billion solar project to fast-track energy transitionon May 27, 2024 at 11:46 pm
Project provides clean energy to 320,000 homes and reduces carbon emissions by 1.6 million tonnes annually . Dubai builds new $4.2 billion solar project to fast-track energy transition . energy transi ...
- Soaring Solar Power Is Creating Challenges for the U.S. Energy Gridon May 27, 2024 at 3:00 pm
The rapid growth of solar power in the U.S. is creating challenges for the power grid, leading to concerns about wasted solar output and high electricity prices.
- Minnesota farm family cashes in on solar with Novel Energy Solutionson May 27, 2024 at 9:12 am
In 2023, solar energy provided almost 4% of Minnesota’s total electricity generation, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
- One-third of Grinnell College power to come from solar energy with new solar arrayon May 27, 2024 at 5:59 am
Grinnell College has made a “decisive step” forward in the direction of operating without emissions with the completion of a 9,000-panel solar array. One-third of Grinnell College’s campus is now ...
- Startup plans to revolutionize clean energy industry with space-based solar power: 'Can be twice as efficient or more'on May 26, 2024 at 3:59 am
"A rectenna … it's like an antenna with another circuit added to it that can convert RF into something usable. In fact, the receivers that we've got can be twice as efficient or more than a typical ...
- COMMENTARY: The true cost of wind and solar energyon May 25, 2024 at 9:01 pm
Imagine if a solar-driven car was launched tomorrow, cheaper to run than a gasoline vehicle. It would be incredibly alluring until you realize that — because of limitations in battery ...
- From Solar to Fusion: The Game-Changers in Energy Technologyon May 25, 2024 at 5:58 pm
In a world where renewable energy is no longer just a buzzword, the race to find the next game-changers in sustainable energy technology has never been more exciting. From harnessing the power of ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Solar-to-fuel
[google_news title=”” keyword=”solar-to-fuel” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”] [/vc_column_text]The Latest Bing News on:
Solar fuel
- Access to finance key for solar in small island nationson May 28, 2024 at 2:34 am
Held once a decade since 1994, the fourth International Conference on Small Island developing states (SIDS) began this week in St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda with a strong message: That major changes ...
- Swisshelm Park solar project radiates Pittsburgh’s energy futureon May 28, 2024 at 2:32 am
Some local organizations have made the bet on solar. But Pittsburgh will have to blot out challenges, such as a long line to connect to the grid and a lack of storage solutions for dark hours.
- Dubai builds new $4.2 billion solar project to fast-track energy transitionon May 27, 2024 at 11:46 pm
Project provides clean energy to 320,000 homes and reduces carbon emissions by 1.6 million tonnes annually . Dubai builds new $4.2 billion solar project to fast-track energy transition . energy transi ...
- Minnesota farm family cashes in on solar with Novel Energy Solutionson May 27, 2024 at 9:12 am
In 2023, solar energy provided almost 4% of Minnesota’s total electricity generation, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
- One-third of Grinnell College power to come from solar energy with new solar arrayon May 27, 2024 at 5:59 am
Grinnell College has made a “decisive step” forward in the direction of operating without emissions with the completion of a 9,000-panel solar array. One-third of Grinnell College’s campus is now ...
- Colorado counties’ halts on large solar energy projects are slowing progress toward state’s climate goalson May 27, 2024 at 1:00 am
At first, the Snyders weren’t too worried when a clause appeared in their lease with the Colorado State Land Board. It said their use of the parcel would be terminated if the county government ...
- Startup plans to revolutionize clean energy industry with space-based solar power: 'Can be twice as efficient or more'on May 26, 2024 at 3:59 am
"A rectenna … it's like an antenna with another circuit added to it that can convert RF into something usable. In fact, the receivers that we've got can be twice as efficient or more than a typical ...
- COMMENTARY: The true cost of wind and solar energyon May 25, 2024 at 9:01 pm
Imagine if a solar-driven car was launched tomorrow, cheaper to run than a gasoline vehicle. It would be incredibly alluring until you realize that — because of limitations in battery ...
- From Solar to Fusion: The Game-Changers in Energy Technologyon May 25, 2024 at 5:58 pm
In a world where renewable energy is no longer just a buzzword, the race to find the next game-changers in sustainable energy technology has never been more exciting. From harnessing the power of ...
- China made so many solar panels that even its own grid can't support all the energy producedon May 24, 2024 at 12:40 am
China doesn't have enough storage or transmission capacity for all the solar energy it's producing, Reuters reports.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Solar fuel
[google_news title=”” keyword=”solar fuel” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]