Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a device that can convert sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into formic acid, a liquid fuel with high energy density. The device, described as a thin sheet, operates standalone without external power or additional catalysts.
Professor Erwin Reisner, who leads the team, explained that the system mimics natural photosynthesis but produces a more usable fuel than plants' carbohydrates. 'Plants are a huge inspiration, because they have learned over millions of years how to take up sunlight and store the energy in energy carriers,' he said.
While current efficiency is low—plants convert only one to two per cent of solar energy—the US Department of Energy has set a target of five to ten per cent for economic viability. The Cambridge device is one of several approaches being pursued globally, with US government funding of $100m over five years for two major projects.
Despite the promise, Professor Jillian Dempsey of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill cautioned that significant challenges remain, particularly in integrating all components into a single system. 'There's been some incredible science in terms of...' she noted, without finishing the sentence.
