Plant (Solar) Power

MIT News reports that researchers have created a virus-templated catalyst solution that can harness energy from water molecules by splitting the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The new biologically based system was inspired by photosynthesis: in plant cells, pigments absorb sunlight and then a catalyst promotes a water-splitting (and energy producing) reaction. The researchers used zinc porphyrins as a biological pigment and iridium oxide as a catalyst. For the full story, visit: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/belcher-water-0412.html

Article posted by Scott Shreve
on Tuesday June 29th, 2010.