From left to right, Associate Professor Michael Strano with graduate student Ardemis Boghossian and postdoctoral fellow Moon-Ho Ham, in one of the labs where they carried out their experiments.

This proof-of-concept version of the photoelectrochemical cell, which was used for laboratory tests, contains a photoactive solution made up of a mix of self-assembling molecules (in a glass cylinder held in place by metal clamp) with two electrodes protruding from the top, one made of platinum (the bare wire) and the other of silver (in a glass tube).