Breakthrough artificial leaf follows sun for over 800% solar energy efficiency boost
The new artificial leaves can work in water and on land, but have some way to go before real-world use.
Chinese researchers have developed a new kind of artificial leaf that can track the movement of the sun, much like real leaves. Able to produce electricity and potentially split water into hydrogen and oxygen, this new leaf could revolutionize fuel production.
The new artificial leaf combines flexible solar-powered electrodes with a protective gel coating. It also incorporates an innovative supporting structure from carbon nanotubes embedded in a temperature-sensitive polymer.
When the artificial leaf is exposed to sunlight, these nanotubes are locally heated, causing the polymer to contract. Areas not exposed to direct sunlight remain in an expanded form, which results in the leaf “bending” towards a light source.
This process effectively keeps the leaf automatically facing the light source without the need for motors or other devices. According to the researchers, this mechanism is similar to how plants, especially aquatic ones like Micranthemum glomeratum, track the sun.