"Photosynthesis, nature's way of converting sunlight to fuel, happens all around us, from leaves on a tree to the smallest blade of grass. But finding a way to mimic the ability cheaply and efficiently has confounded engineers for decades.Now researchers have taken a step toward this elusive feat, with a device that is even more efficient than natural photosynthesis and relies on low-cost, abundant materials.
Conventional solar cells produce electricity when a photovoltaic material is exposed to light. The new device goes a step further, using the resulting electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, which can be stored and used to generate electricity via a fuel cell."
More http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/37310/?p1=MstRcnt
