This artificial leaf makes hydrocarbons out of carbon dioxide

The ethylene and ethnic system produces, proving that artificial leaves can create hydrocarbons. Development can provide a cheaper and cleaner method for making fuel, chemicals and plastic.

For the leadership of Virgil Andre’s research at Cambridge University, the ultimate goal is to use this technology to create fuel that does not leave a harmful carbon imprint after burning. If the process uses carbon dioxide captured by air or energy plants, the resulting fuel may be neutral for carbon – and reduce the need to maintain fossil fuels.

Andrei, who participated in authored a study in which she was published Stimulate In February. “You end up imitating the carbon cycle in nature, so you do not need additional fossil resources.”

Nano copper

Like other artificial leaves, the team’s energy system mocks the sun to create chemical products. But hydrocarbons production is more complex than hydrogen making because the process requires more energy.

To accomplish this achievement, the researchers presented some innovations. The first was the use of a specialized catalyst consisting of small flower -like copper structures, which were produced in the PEIDONG YANG co -author at the University of California, Berkeley. On the one side of the device, the electrons accumulate on the surfaces of this nano. Then these electrons were used to convert carbon dioxide and water into a group of molecules including ethylene and ethnic, hydrocarbons, each of which contains two carbon atoms.

Andrei, V., ROH, I., Lin, Ja. And others. Nat Catal (2025)

André says: “Depending on the nanoparticles of the copper stimulus, you can be able to obtain different products of molecules, and Andrei says:“ Depending on the nanoparticles of the copper catalyst you can get different products, Andrei says: “These nanoparticles are controlled and can be adjusted to produce a wide range of molecules, Andrei says:“ based on the nanoactive structure For a copper catalyst, you can get greatly different products. ”

On the other side of the device, the team also developed a more efficient energy method for the source of electrons using light -boring silicon wires to treat glycerin instead of water, which is used more commonly. An additional advantages is that the glycerin -based process can produce useful compounds such as glyckens, lactate and essences, which can be harvested for use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Scaling

Although the experimental system works, progress is just a hiking stone towards creating a commercially applicable fuel source. “This research shows that this concept can succeed,” says Yanoi Lum, assistant professor of chemical engineering and molecules at the National University of Singapore. But he adds, “Performance is still not enough for practical applications. It is still not yet.”