Cheap and efficient artificial leaf debuted

Scientists in the US say they have produced a 100 W 'artificial leaf' that uses sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, but costs under $50 (£31) to manufacture.

The device can run on impure water, they say, making it further suited to the target market, the developing world, and raising the possibility of using the same technology for water purification.

Dan Nocera from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US, said at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society that he wanted to make the fast food of energy production. He explained that he gave up efficiency for 'a huge price benefit' because he designed his device specifically for the developing world. The small size and lack of wiring or engineering complexity makes the leaf very cheap to manufacture.