Researchers in China have developed a solar-powered process inspired by photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into chemicals for petrol production. The method uses a new material that stores electrical energy to drive reactions efficiently. This breakthrough could provide fuels for sectors like aviation and shipping.
Chinese scientists have developed a plant-inspired method to convert carbon dioxide and water into valuable chemicals, such as the building blocks for petrol, by using solar energy. The team, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said they had developed a material able to store small amounts of electrical energy to help efficiently drive chemical reactions.
When paired with catalysts that converted carbon dioxide into various chemicals, it enabled the solar-driven production of carbon monoxide. This could be further converted into fuel, offering a possible alternative for hard-to-electrify sectors such as aviation and shipping.
“This work establishes a bioinspired charge reservoir strategy for efficient carbon dioxide photoreduction, providing a universal approach to solar fuel production,” the team wrote in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications last week.
The innovation mimics photosynthesis in plants, using sunlight to directly produce fuel and potentially reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The research highlights the potential of solar energy in sustainable chemistry.