SolarLeaf Hits 15% Efficiency in Artificial Photosynthesis — 10x Better Than Nature
PhotoSynth unveils SolarLeaf, an artificial photosynthesis system that uses nano-catalysts to convert sunlight, CO2, and water directly into hydrogen fuel at 15% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency — ten times more efficient than natural photosynthesis.
Clean energy research firm PhotoSynth launched its SolarLeaf artificial photosynthesis system on April 8. Natural photosynthesis converts sunlight to chemical energy at an efficiency of roughly 1.5% — plants divert most absorbed light energy to their own metabolic processes. SolarLeaf uses nano-catalysts to push that figure to 15%.
SolarLeaf mimics photosynthesis but skips the "wasteful" biological metabolism step. Under sunlight, the system's nano-catalysts split water into hydrogen and oxygen while simultaneously reducing CO2 into carbon monoxide, which can be further synthesized into liquid fuels.
Under laboratory conditions, a single one-square-meter SolarLeaf panel produces approximately 50 grams of hydrogen per day. PhotoSynth estimates that if efficiency reaches 20% and costs drop below $100 per square meter, SolarLeaf will become a more economical source of green hydrogen than water electrolysis.
PhotoSynth has closed a $60 million Series A and plans to build its first megawatt-scale SolarLeaf hydrogen production demonstration plant by 2032.
Disclaimer
Content is AI-generated. Do not use it as a basis for real decisions. Do not cite it as factual reporting.