These scientists say they are able to purify the carbon dioxide in the air and turn it into something more beneficial to humanity

How to convert carbon dioxide into clean energy without polluting the environment.

New hope for the future of our planet: University of Chicago scientists have discovered a revolutionary way to convert carbon dioxide into clean fuels and useful chemicals, while reducing unwanted byproducts.

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A major scientific achievement for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere

Researchers at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have developed a revolutionary method to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into clean fuels and useful chemicals. This new technology promises to make the process more efficient, reducing the production of unwanted byproducts such as hydrogen gas and carbonates. Carbon dioxide is responsible for 78% of the change in the energy balance of the Earth's atmosphere between 1990 and 2022. This greenhouse gas is produced mainly by the combustion of fossil fuels, and comes from the exhaust gases of cars and coal-fired electric power plants. Even some renewable energy sources generate a small amount of carbon dioxide, although much less than coal and natural gas.

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Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction: a promising solution

At its core, carbon dioxide is simply a combination of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms, which can be rearranged through a process called electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO2R) to produce clean fuels and useful chemicals. However, this process is often hampered by the formation of unwanted byproducts. In a recent publication by L Stimulating natureResearchers at the University of Chicago's Amanchukwu Laboratory have discovered a way to manipulate water molecules to make carbon dioxide more efficient. Their ultimate goal is to create a clean energy loop.

Their new method allows carbon dioxide to be produced with almost complete efficiency under slightly acidic conditions, using gold or zinc as catalysts.

Competition with hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)

During the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide, the carbon and oxygen atoms of carbon dioxide combine with the hydrogen atoms in water to form new molecules. However, a competing reaction called the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) occurs, in which pairs of hydrogen atoms are formed, making the process less efficient. Amanchukwu's lab, known for its battery research, applied knowledge from aqueous batteries to hypothesize that controlling water using organic solvents could provide a solution.

Does gold still shine?

Both CO2R and HER rely on water as a proton donor. Using organic solvents and acidic additives, the team was able to tune the behavior of the water so that it produced the ideal amount of protons needed to form the desired molecules, and not hydrogen gas or other unwanted materials such as carbonates.

The most effective CO2 methods use precious metals such as platinum, silver, or gold. However, these materials quickly became too expensive for large-scale industrial applications. By modifying the electrolyte, the new method achieves similar results using less expensive and more abundant materials.

An accessible and revolutionary discovery

Thanks to this discovery, it is now possible to use abundant metals such as zinc instead of precious metals. By controlling the water independently, researchers can now use easily accessible minerals to achieve effective results. This development paves the way for wider use of electrochemical CO2 reduction, making this technology more economically and environmentally feasible.

future prospects

The ultimate goal of this research is to create a clean energy cycle where green electricity produced by solar and wind energy is used to convert carbon dioxide into fuel. This would make it possible to close the energy loop in a sustainable way.

Benefits of the clean energy cycle

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• The use of renewable energies in industrial processes
• Reducing dependence on fossil fuels

These developments have the potential to transform the way we produce energy and manage carbon dioxide emissions, with significant benefits to the environment and the economy.

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This article explores a new method developed by researchers from the University of Chicago to convert carbon dioxide into clean fuels and useful chemicals with increased efficiency and fewer unwanted byproducts. Using organic solvents and zinc or gold catalysts, this technology promises to revolutionize our approach to reducing CO2 emissions and producing clean energy. The future outlook is promising, with positive implications for energy sustainability and the fight against climate change.

source : nature