Solar-Powered Device Generates Electricity Through Ion Transport

By binding photosensitive dyes to common plastic membranes and adding water, chemists have made a new type of solar power generator. The device is similar to familiar silicon photovoltaic cells, but differs in a fundamental way. Instead of being produced via electrons, its electricity comes from the motion of ions. The synthetic, light-driven proton pump has the added potential capability of taking the salt out of seawater.