Some MIT folks claim they have developed a nearly 100-percent-efficient electrolysis process for use in solar cells, reports EE Times.

The key? A cobalt phosphate catalyst that allows them to make oxygen gas (and not only hydrogen gas) with the excess electricity from their photovoltaic cells during the day, which gases can be combined at night to create electricity (and, uh, water) at night.

What’s more, since no toxic nickel oxide is needed as a catalyst, the cells can be manufactured at far less expense.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

[UPDATED: Correcting a bleary-eyed error.]