New artificial leaf generates fuel from sunlight and water

• Scientists have developed an artificial leaf that absorbs sunlight to generate hydrogen fuel from water, an advance that may provide clean energy for powering eco-friendly cars in the future.
• The ultra-thin wireless device mimics plant leaves to produce energy using water and sunlight.
• The device consists of semiconductors stacked in a manner to simulate the natural leaf system.
• When visible light strikes the semiconductors, electrons move in one direction, producing electric current.
• The current almost instantaneously splits water into hydrogen, which researchers believe is one of the cleanest forms of fuel as its main by-product is water.

Note:

• At present, hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels by steam reforming and in this process, emits a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) - a greenhouse gas that promotes global warming.