Photolytic cell for providing physiological gas exchange

A photolytic artificial lung for producing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the blood of a patient comprising:

• an inlet for receiving blood from a patient and transporting the blood to a photolytic cell;
• a photolytic cell having a light activated catalyst, said light activated catalyst having the ability to convert water to dissolved oxygen upon light activation;
• a light source for providing light photons to said photolytic cell and activating said catalyst to initiate a series of chemical reactions that result in dissolved oxygen generation and carbon dioxide formation;
• a first outlet for transporting oxygenated blood out of said photolytic cell and returning the blood to the patient;
• and
• a second outlet for removing gaseous CO2 from the blood;
• and
• a CO2 gas sorption device connected to the second outlet.

A photolytic cell comprising:

• a transparent substrate;
• a light-activated photolytic catalyst disposed upon said substrate;
• and
• a disproportionation catalyst disposed upon said light-activated photolytic catalyst;
• and
• a CO2 gas sorption device connected to said photolytic cell.