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Panasonic's Artificial Photosynthesis Turns Water, Sunlight, and CO2 into Useful Chemicals

Popular Science -- Artificial photosynthesis--the idea that we might be able to create energy and other useful thing from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, as plants do--is something of a holy grail for energy and green chemistry researchers. And while some efforts have shown modest potential--MIT’s Nocera Lab, for instance, claims to have created an artificial leaf from stable materials--efficiency is still a problem. That hasn’t stopped consumer electronics giant Panasonic; the company yesterday revealed that it is investing in artificial photosynthesis technology that turns carbon dioxide and sunlight into industrial chemicals. Just add water.

Panasonic’s two-step approach involves a nitride semiconductor that converts sunlight into a flow of electrons that splits water into its constituent hydrogen

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Submitted Aug 05, 2012 By: NHLiveFree

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,643 Points:1,611,470 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 8, 2012 5:54:09 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse thinking outside the box is something badly needed.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,105 Points:1,624,380 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 7, 2012 1:17:20 AM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Several large firms and many universities are working hard to be first on the breakthroung that will make this an affordable mass production item. It is coming! [Edited by: NHLiveFree at 8/7/2012 1:18:18 AM EST]
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,084 Points:1,450,275 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:14:51 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse What a great idea, artificial photosynthesis (i.e., solar powered chemistry)! This could be quite a great technological step. AlienBug: Remember: If they start making money, Gasbuddies will curse them. Nah. Only if the new technology threatens the preeminence of oil and gas will you then find the cursing of it. Otherwise, you will just get the usual pooh-poohing of the technology.
AlienBug All-Star Author Connecticut Posts:732 Points:218,035 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 4:27:18 PM Ignore AlienBug Report Abuse Remember: If they start making money, Gasbuddies will curse them.
Moumoom Veteran Author Toronto Posts:320 Points:400,100 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 1:10:54 PM Ignore Moumoom Report Abuse Interesting. Someone's trying to make a big difference!
2granny Champion Author Michigan Posts:9,585 Points:1,468,205 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 11:30:52 AM Ignore 2granny Report Abuse Interesting article.
Buck_on_Bass Champion Author Tennessee Posts:7,584 Points:1,458,010 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 10:20:31 AM Ignore Buck_on_Bass Report Abuse Research is important to learn what can be done and to advance knowledge. Sometimes, learning what cannot be done efficiently is as important as learning what can be done.
fatboy97 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,494 Points:1,709,525 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 10:14:39 AM Ignore fatboy97 Report Abuse ok
EMoe57 Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:4,627 Points:1,017,990 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:56:58 AM Ignore EMoe57 Report Abuse interesting research
bart_reed Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,984 Points:787,580 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:54:33 AM Ignore bart_reed Report Abuse Now, if this technique could only boost the intelligence of a few people posting here.
goalie1950 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:6,420 Points:1,298,370 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:52:12 AM Ignore goalie1950 Report Abuse In medieval times, they called this alchemy.
Wizrd03 Champion Author Illinois Posts:8,162 Points:1,634,285 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:47:48 AM Ignore Wizrd03 Report Abuse Pretty soon they'll be turning lead into gold....
91Hilux Champion Author New Haven Posts:2,177 Points:683,645 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:47:06 AM Ignore 91Hilux Report Abuse Nice innovation. Keep it up.
MrLuigi Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,783 Points:968,635 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:46:38 AM Ignore MrLuigi Report Abuse sounds like it'll be long time before this is even anything to think about if its only two-tenths of one percent efficient......but keep working on it
Don20 Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:9,682 Points:2,621,580 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:44:05 AM Ignore Don20 Report Abuse OK, lets see a working model if it works and is renewable.. And how mutch is it going to cost consumers...
OldMan322 Champion Author Illinois Posts:5,165 Points:1,596,690 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:42:57 AM Ignore OldMan322 Report Abuse Basic science
I10Express Champion Author San Antonio Posts:8,679 Points:1,641,920 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:42:31 AM Ignore I10Express Report Abuse ok
rev342 Veteran Author Florida Posts:484 Points:256,230 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:41:30 AM Ignore rev342 Report Abuse ok
humancry Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,618 Points:1,002,455 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:38:06 AM Ignore humancry Report Abuse lets hope but in all things they will hit us with high prices.
dondee118 Champion Author Kansas City Posts:8,947 Points:1,712,650 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:37:49 AM Ignore dondee118 Report Abuse Agree with sparkie951. Great idea, just get private investors to do it. Of course, if taxes were lower, people would be more inclined to invest.
Voltus Champion Author Miami Posts:8,461 Points:1,557,350 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:35:28 AM Ignore Voltus Report Abuse sounds great...
sparkie951 Champion Author Roanoke Posts:4,185 Points:853,685 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:34:12 AM Ignore sparkie951 Report Abuse Interesting idea... Hope they are not using MY TAX DOLLAR to do it.
civicdutie Champion Author Rochester Posts:4,516 Points:956,185 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:33:28 AM Ignore civicdutie Report Abuse Good to see money spent on making technological progress.
shea33 Champion Author Pensacola Posts:2,378 Points:544,890 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:31:40 AM Ignore shea33 Report Abuse got it
treehood Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,054 Points:398,710 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:29:55 AM Ignore treehood Report Abuse Sounds like it could be promising, just keep the government out of it.
oas Champion Author Maryland Posts:4,240 Points:2,143,365 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:20:03 AM Ignore oas Report Abuse If it is energy efficient then this could be a good idea.
9C1 Champion Author Chicago Posts:22,869 Points:4,248,535 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:16:13 AM Ignore 9C1 Report Abuse OK
PTBpricer Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,552 Points:207,395 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:14:57 AM Ignore PTBpricer Report Abuse Maybe if they could break down carbon monoxide.
rnlunder Champion Author Waco Posts:2,321 Points:496,125 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:11:25 AM Ignore rnlunder Report Abuse How is this going to save me gas money??? Is there a global shortage of Formic Acid? Why not start with perfecting the first step that splits water into hydrogen and Oxygen with enough efficiency to be useful before going off on a pipe dream of creating Formic Acid. It's like converting straw into gold and then converting that gold into charcoal?
BBHybrid Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:6,474 Points:1,296,000 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:10:17 AM Ignore BBHybrid Report Abuse but probably causes cancer right?
OldMoses All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:749 Points:56,335 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:09:22 AM Ignore OldMoses Report Abuse It's their money. They can use it to tinker with anything they want.
Insuremn Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:4,962 Points:1,032,960 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:07:41 AM Ignore Insuremn Report Abuse Ok.
ted4636 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,496 Points:1,639,610 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:07:16 AM Ignore ted4636 Report Abuse htyiouityjk
rvn4me Champion Author Texas Posts:5,601 Points:1,494,965 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:06:00 AM Ignore rvn4me Report Abuse Why dont we perfect something we already have available before we start looking for other sources?
oldred11 Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:1,600 Points:732,225 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:03:35 AM Ignore oldred11 Report Abuse Is this the eventual answer to cheap hydrogen? I hope so. Makes me glad I've supported Panasonic by purchasing many GE, Quasar and Panasonic TV's over the years.
dopster Champion Author Toledo Posts:7,287 Points:2,294,200 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:03:18 AM Ignore dopster Report Abuse Sounds promising!
Marson Champion Author Scranton Posts:8,957 Points:2,080,110 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:03:05 AM Ignore Marson Report Abuse could have potential.
carpenter4u Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,436 Points:617,895 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:00:30 AM Ignore carpenter4u Report Abuse only the future will tell
photobuddy Champion Author Washington Posts:1,620 Points:370,255 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 9:00:03 AM Ignore photobuddy Report Abuse sounds like a pipe dream
wt0826 Champion Author Ontario Posts:3,736 Points:838,100 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:59:48 AM Ignore wt0826 Report Abuse ok
ARCO Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:2,358 Points:2,379,320 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:59:04 AM Ignore ARCO Report Abuse SOUNDS LIKE IT
RAKARWOWSKI Champion Author Chicago Posts:4,010 Points:822,975 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:58:09 AM Ignore RAKARWOWSKI Report Abuse But is it green?
SirLancelot1 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,298 Points:159,350 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:57:09 AM Ignore SirLancelot1 Report Abuse Here goes a billion bucks
cableman31 Champion Author New York Posts:8,843 Points:2,018,750 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:56:22 AM Ignore cableman31 Report Abuse More ways to waste money and call it green.
throttle Champion Author Maryland Posts:11,982 Points:2,464,695 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:56:11 AM Ignore throttle Report Abuse Breakthrough of the day.
biza4u Champion Author New Haven Posts:8,533 Points:1,629,850 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:56:10 AM Ignore biza4u Report Abuse Ok
bikechuck Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:7,021 Points:2,065,070 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:55:51 AM Ignore bikechuck Report Abuse Now if this can be applied to the real world and be practical, then do it.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,304 Points:2,373,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:55:49 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse can it turn out gasoline ??????
RamboOn66 Champion Author Tampa Posts:5,321 Points:1,886,755 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:54:31 AM Ignore RamboOn66 Report Abuse In a lab.
JENNYHK Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,651 Points:715,495 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:54:22 AM Ignore JENNYHK Report Abuse Thought they made radios?