Fabrican la primera hoja artificial

MIT Professor Dan Nocera believes he can solve the worlds energy problems with an Olympic-sized pool of water. Nocera and his research team have identified a simple technique for powering the Earth inexpensively by using the sun to split water and store energy - making the large-scale deployment of personalized solar energy possible.
http://www.suncatalytix.com/index.html


MIT Scientists Create Artificial Solar Leaf That Can Power Homes
by Lori Zimmer, 03/28/11
filed under: Green Appliances,Renewable Energy

Dr. David Nocera, Photosynthesis, artificial photosynthesis, solar cell, solar power, American Chemical Society, Department of Energy, ARPA-E, artificial leaf, renewable energy, green energy

Scientist Dr. David Nocera has finally perfected a low-cost, artificial leaf-like device, that like a real leaf, mimics the process of photosynthesis. Nocera announced the creation of a miniature solar cell at the 241st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society last week. Nocera hopes to use his “leaf” to help make individual homes capable of becoming their own self-sufficient power stations.



Dr. David Nocera, Photosynthesis, artificial photosynthesis, solar cell, solar power, American Chemical Society, Department of Energy, ARPA-E, artificial leaf, renewable energy, green energy
The idea of a cell that can reproduce the photosynthetic process came about over ten years ago, but initially required expensive and rare metals and materials that would price out the commercial consumer. But Nocera’s model uses inexpensive nickel and cobalt catalysts. These catalysts effectively and efficiently split hydrogen and oxygen at a production rate of about ten times that of one of Mother Nature’s leaves.

Using a simple mixture of sunlight and one gallon of water, the “leaf” which is the size of a playing card, is made of silicon, electronics and the aforementioned catalysts, which speed up the process. Rather than producing energy directly like a photovoltaic cell, the “leaf” splits the hydrogen and oxygen atoms, which then produce electricity for personal and household use. The prototype can produce energy continuously for 45 hours without any fluctuations.

Nocera’s leaf could mean big things for household energy everywhere. Poor and developing countries could source affordable electricity for their homes in small and remote villages without the construction of power lines and the like. In light of the ever increasing oil prices, Nocera’s renewable energy “leaf” would function practically as a furnace, providing low-cost energy as a common household device. In fact, the “leaf” has been funded in part by the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E transformational energy program- via our tax dollars.

Nocera’s “leaf” is ready for commercial production and distribution. Hopefully one day soon, each home will find it as common as a hot water heater!

Read more: MIT Scientists Create Artificial Solar Leaf That Can Power Homes | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World
http://inhabitat.com/mit-scientists-create-artificial-solar-leaf-that-can-power-homes/

SIMULA LA FOTOSÍNTESIS
Fabrican la primera hoja artificial
La célula solar simula el proceso de fotosíntesis de los vegetales.

2011-03-28
Alex Fernández Muerza /


El objetivo de la célula solar es convertir la luz y el agua en energía de forma muy barata y limpia. Esta "hoja artificial" se ha dado a conocer en la 241 Reunión Nacional de la Sociedad Química Americana, según un artículo publicado en Science Daily.

"Una hoja artificial ha sido uno de los santos griales de la ciencia durante décadas, y nosotros creemos haberlo logrado", asegura su responsable, Daniel Nocera, un químico del Instituto Tecnológico de Massachusetts (MIT) de EEUU.

El dispositivo, del tamaño de una carta de póquer, pero más delgado, se basa en el silicio, la electrónica y los catalizadores, unas sustancias que aceleran las reacciones químicas. Asimismo, necesita para funcionar unos tres litros y medio de agua y la luz del sol. Las reacciones dividen el agua en sus dos componentes, hidrógeno y oxígeno, que se almacenan en una pila de combustible para producir electricidad.

Según Nocera, su hoja artificial podría producir electricidad suficiente para abastecer una casa en un país en desarrollo durante un día, dijo Nocera. En este sentido, el experto del MIT señala que el objetivo de su equipo es que cada hogar se convierta en su propia central eléctrica: "Uno se puede imaginar aldeas de India y África dentro de no mucho tiempo comprando un sistema asequible de energía basado en esta tecnología."

El concepto de "hoja artificial" se creó hace más de una década por John Turner en el Laboratorio Nacional de Energía Renovable de EE.UU. en Boulder, Colorado, pero sus materiales eran muy caros e inestables. Nocera asegura haber superado estos inconvenientes.
http://www.libertaddigital.com/ciencia/fabrican-la-primera-hoja-artificial-1276418569/