Scientists at MIT have developed an artificial leaf that mimics photosynthesis, only much more efficiently. The leaf breaks water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen parts and stores them in cells for generating electricity. Previous artificial leaves were highly unstable and made of expensive components — the new leaf is a big step forward in that it’s made of cheap and resilient components.

David Nocera, the lead scientist on the project, claims that one artificial leaf in a gallon of water could produce enough electricity to power a household in developing countries for a day. A company in India is already planning to implement this technology on a larger scale with the creation of a small power plant about the size of a refrigerator.

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