SAEDNEWS: Cambridge University researchers have developed a solar “artificial leaf” that mimics the photosynthesis process in plants, sustainably producing valuable chemicals. This bio-hybrid device combines organic semiconductors and enzymes to efficiently convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into formate.
According to Saed News Science Service, citing ISNA, the chemical industry is responsible for about 6 percent of global carbon emissions. A team at the University of Cambridge is now exploring innovative approaches that could eventually decouple this vital sector from fossil fuels.
As reported by Science Daily, their breakthrough involves a hybrid device that combines light-absorbing polymers with bacterial enzymes to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into formate—a clean fuel that can also supply energy for subsequent chemical reactions.
This “semi-artificial leaf” mimics natural photosynthesis and operates entirely on its own energy. Unlike previous models that relied on toxic or unstable materials, this bio-hybrid system uses non-toxic components, achieves higher efficiency, and remains stable without chemical additives.
In experiments, the team successfully converted carbon dioxide into formate using sunlight and then directly employed it in a chain reaction to produce a valuable pharmaceutical compound with high yield and purity.
This marks the first time organic semiconductors have been used as light-absorbing components in such a bio-hybrid system, potentially ushering in a new generation of environmentally friendly artificial leaves.
The chemical industry is a cornerstone of the global economy, producing a wide array of goods, from pharmaceuticals and fertilizers to plastics, paints, electronics, and personal care products. The research team behind this artificial leaf specializes in developing devices that transform sunlight into fuels and carbon compounds without fossil fuels. Many of their previous designs, however, relied on artificial catalysts or inorganic semiconductors that degraded quickly, wasted much of the solar spectrum, or contained toxic elements such as lead.
In the new device, organic semiconductors are combined with enzymes from sulfate-reducing bacteria to split water into hydrogen and oxygen or convert carbon dioxide into formate.
The researchers also addressed a longstanding challenge: most systems require chemical additives called buffers to keep enzymes active, which reduce stability. By embedding an auxiliary enzyme, the system operates in a simple solution resembling sparkling water without environmentally harmful additives.
Tests showed the artificial leaf generates strong currents, channeling electrons toward fuel-producing reactions with near-complete efficiency. The device operated continuously for over 24 hours—more than twice the runtime of previous models.
The researchers aim to extend the device’s durability and adapt it to produce other types of chemical compounds.
