Researchers have designed artificial leaves that suck carbon dioxide out of the air and create oxygen. Well isn’t that what leaves already do, you might be asking? Yes, but where these artificial leaves differ is that they can trap carbon dioxide and turn it into carbon monoxide, which can then be used for a whole range of purposes, such as making synthetic fuels. Oxygen is a by-product as well, which can also be collected or just released back into the outside air like a natural plant would do. What makes these leaves especially impressive is that they can suck up carbon dioxide 10 times more efficiently than a natural leaf can. Not to mention the artificial leaves already work under real-world conditions, meaning they could start plucking carbon out of the air real soon.
These artificial leaves pull carbon dioxide out of thin air to create fuel
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