solar fuel

A solar fuel is a fuel produced from sunlight through artificial photosynthesis or (experimental as of 2013) a thermochemical reaction. Light is used as an energy source, with solar energy being transduced to chemical energy, typically by reducing protons to hydrogen, or carbon dioxide to organic compounds. A solar fuel can be produced and stored for later usage, when sunlight is not available, making it an alternative to fossil fuels. Diverse photocatalysts are being developed to carry these reactions in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way.