NANOTECHNOLOGY FUEL PRODUCTION: Nanotubes For Photocatalysis Produce Methane. “A cheap synthetic system that works better than plant photosynthesis for producing hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight might some day provide a great source of energy. Toward that end some Penn State researchers have advanced the state of the art for light-driven methane generation using titania nanotubes. I love to see this kind of advance.” Me too.