Caltech scientists and engineers inspired by the leaf, have developed an electrically conductive film and the chemical process that would convert solar energy to split water into hydrogen fuel. It enables fuel production that is inherently safe and does not produce explosive mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen. The artificial leaf consists of three components: two electrodes, a photocathode & photoanode - and a membrane. The photoanode oxidizes water molecules to generate oxygen gas, splits protons & electrons while the photocathode recombines the protons and electrons to make hydrogen gas. The importance of the membrane is that it separates the two gases to eliminate any dangerous conditions and allows easier gas collection. Still way off but the further development of artificial photosynthetic systems could ALSO replicate the natural process to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugars!
Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis
Solar-Powered Membrane Separates Water Into Hydrogen and Oxygen Without Exploding | Popular Science