Artificial photosynthesis — the holy grail of clean energy — reached a defining milestone in 2015, when researchers achieved efficient solar-driven water splitting using stable catalysts.

Artificial photosynthesis aims to replicate the most elegant system nature ever produced: using sunlight to convert water and CO₂ into energy-rich molecules.

Breakthroughs included:

• Metal-organic frameworks for solar fuel generation
• Catalysts that mimic plant enzymes
• Photoelectrochemical cells producing hydrogen
• CO₂ reduction catalysts producing methanol and hydrocarbons
• Integrated solar-to-fuel reactors

Artificial photosynthesis is powerful because it offers liquid fuels without fossil fuels — a game-changer for aviation, shipping and heavy industry.

Once scaled, artificial photosynthesis could do for the 21st century what chloroplasts did for the ancient Earth: power life using the sun.