UK scientists' artificial leaf turns CO2, sunlight into useful chemicals

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a novel hybrid device, described as a “semi-artificial leaf,” that mimics natural photosynthesis to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into useful chemicals, specifically formate. This innovation combines light-harvesting organic polymers with bacterial enzymes, avoiding toxic semiconductors used in earlier prototypes. The device operates without external power or additional chemicals, demonstrating improved stability and efficiency, running continuously for over 24 hours—more than twice the duration of previous models. This breakthrough offers a promising pathway toward the “de-fossilisation” of the chemical industry, which currently relies heavily on fossil fuels and accounts for about 6% of global carbon emissions. By using organic semiconductors as the light-harvesting component—a first in biohybrid devices—the researchers achieved near-perfect electron efficiency in fuel production and successfully integrated the system into a domino chemical reaction to produce pharmaceutical compounds with high yield and purity. The team aims to further enhance the device’s lifespan