Artificial Leaves: Out of the lab and into the Air

Citation: (APA)

Innovation Toronto. (2019, February 17). Artificial leaves move into daylight. Retrieved from http://www.innovationtoronto.com/2019/02/artificial-leaves-move-into-daylight/

Original research:University of Illinois at Chicago, 2019

Link to article: http://www.innovationtoronto.com/2019/02/artificial-leaves-move-into-daylight/

Summary:

• The source: Innovation Toronto reporting on research conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago (Also reported in Their findings are reported in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Science Daily)
• What: Artificial Leaves that mimic photosynthesis
• Who: University of Chicago at Illinois
• Why: The finalized concept design offers an artificial source of reducing the compounding carbon emissions.
• When: February, 2019. The date to release the official device has not yet been determined
• Where: This technology would have global impact and use
• How: Their improved leaf, which would use carbon dioxide from the air, would be at least 10 times more efficient than natural leaves at converting carbon dioxide to fuel. They accomplished this by encapsulating an artificial leaf inside a semi-permeable membrane. When warmed by the sun, water from within the resin membrane evaporates out and, at the same, pulls in CO2. The artificial photosynthetic unit inside the membrane then converts the CO2 into CO. This CO is then used to create various synthetic fuels. O2 is also produced and can either be collected or released into the surrounding environment.
• Significance:
  • A solution to the growing atmospheric CO2 concentration
  • Answers the call to find a new renewable source of fuel
  • 360 leaves –> 1/2 ton of CO per day to be used for synthetic fuel
  • 360 leaves –> reduce CO2 levels within a 100 m space 10% in one day

Questions:

• Since this technology is taking in carbon dioxide from the environment and creating carbohydrates with the sun’s energy, can this be considered a primary producer?
• Will the release and development of this technology reduce the significance of protecting natural areas like the Amazon rainforest in the eyes of policy makers?
• Where might this technology prove to be most effective?