Dye-sensitised photoelectrosynthesis cell (DSPEC)

♤ Solar energy has long been used as a clean alternative to fossil fuels such as coal and oil, but it could only be harnessed during the day when the sun’s rays were strongest.

♤ According to a path-breaking study, researchers have built a system that converts the sun's energy not into electricity but hydrogen fuel and stores it for later use - allowing us to power our devices long after the sun goes down.

♤ The new system, known as dye-sensitised photoelectrosynthesis cell (DSPEC), generates hydrogen fuel by using the sun's energy to split water into its component parts.

♤ After the split, hydrogen is sequestered and stored, while the byproduct, oxygen, is released into the air