Scientists may have cracked one of the trickiest problems in chemistry: how to mimic the remarkable abilities of the leaf.

Researchers have battled for half a century to create an artificial leaf capable of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into a storable form of energy.

A team of European researchers unveiled significant progress yesterday. They have produced what appears to be a cheap, robust technique that combines sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and a chemical that can be used to produce biofuel.

The process mimics photosynthesis, in which green plants absorb carbon dioxide and water from the air. Using energy from the sun, plants transform these molecules into sugars.

Scientists hope that a synthetic equivalent might reduce society’s