# 105. Artificial Plants For Renewable Energy

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2023-01-17
- Length: 24m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-17-105-artificial-plants-for-renewable-energy
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/105-artificial-plants-for-renewable-energy-1anOvdyb

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss research from the University of Michigan on creating cheap, sustainable hydrogen through artificial photosynthesis. They detail how a self-healing semiconductor made from indium gallium nitride nanostructures allows for high-efficiency water splitting under concentrated sunlight. The hosts highlight that this technology, licensed to NS Nanotech and NX Fuels, achieves 6-9% efficiency, a tenfold improvement over previous state-of-the-art methods, by solving catalyst degradation issues.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-17-105-artificial-plants-for-renewable-energy#t=0) Introduction: Energy harvesting from water and Mouser sponsor
- [3:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-17-105-artificial-plants-for-renewable-energy#t=205) University of Michigan research on artificial photosynthesis
- [7:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-17-105-artificial-plants-for-renewable-energy#t=429) Catalyst durability and the self-healing gallium nitride solution
- [11:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-17-105-artificial-plants-for-renewable-energy#t=666) Concentrated sunlight, heat management, and yield improvements
- [15:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-17-105-artificial-plants-for-renewable-energy#t=932) Efficiency metrics: 6% outdoor vs 9% indoor performance
- [19:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-01-17-105-artificial-plants-for-renewable-energy#t=1180) Commercialization via NS Nanotech and NX Fuels

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mouser Electronics (company)
- University of Michigan (company)
- NS Nanotech (company)
- NX Fuels (company)
- indium gallium nitride (material)
- chemical vapor deposition (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [218 - Big news for hydrogen in the USA with Phil Clark and Kevin Wyss](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-10-13-218-big-news-for-hydrogen-in-the-usa-with-phil-clark-and-kevin-wyss) (People of Packaging)
- [Ep. 18 | Seth Coe-Sullivan and NS Nanotech Are Revolutionizing Display Technology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-02-19-ep-18-seth-coe-sullivan-and-ns-nanotech-are-revolutionizing-display-technology) (Moore's Lobby)
- [HIBT Lab! SOURCE Global: Cody Friesen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-09-15-hibt-lab-source-global-cody-friesen) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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