Taking Photosynthesis Out of the Lab

Sep-20-16 An artificial, self-contained artificial photosynthesis system could open the door to commercially feasible devices.

Developed by a team from Forschungszentrum Jülich, the system consists of a solar cell and electrolyzer that capture solar energy to create hydrogen from water. But rather than trying to improve the device’s components, the team focused on using the accumulated knowledge to produce a working unit that can be used outside the lab.

The new system was built using commercially available and relatively inexpensive parts to create small, individual units. These units can then be connected in a series, allowing each one to reach a voltage of 1.8 volts, the amount required for hydrogen production. According to the team, the unit-based arrangement makes it easier for the laboratory concepts to be scaled up.

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[NATURE.COM]
[FZ-JUELICH.DE]

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