Cambridge and Berkeley researchers have developed an artificial plant that converts CO2 into fuels and chemicals without additional emissions, using only sunlight. This technology, known as artificial photosynthesis, is inspired by the natural process that plants use to convert sunlight into energy. Instead of producing sugars as plants do, these devices convert carbon dioxide and water into fuels and useful chemicals. To achieve this, they use special materials, such as Perovskitas, which absorb light, and metal catalysts, which facilitate the necessary chemical reactions.
A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley, has taken an important step in the production of clean fuels and sustainable chemicals. Its new device combines an artificial sheet, which uses a high-efficiency solar material called Perovskita, with ‘nano-flores’ copper catalysts to convert carbon dioxide into complex hydrocarbons. Unlike most metal catalysts that can only transform CO2 into simple carbon molecules, these copper nano-flores allow the formation of more complex hydrocarbons with two carbon atoms, such as ethane and ethylene. These compounds are essential for the production of liquid fuels, chemical, and plastic products.
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Currently, almost all hydrocarbons come from fossil fuels. However, the method developed by the Cambridge-Berkeley equipment produces clean fuels and chemicals using only CO2, water, and glycerol, without generating additional carbon emissions. The results of this research were published in the magazine Nature Catalysis. This advance is based on previous works of the team on artificial leaves, inspired by photosynthesis, the process by which plants turn sunlight into food.
The researchers were able to go beyond the simple reduction of carbon dioxide and produce more complex hydrocarbons by combining an absorber of Perovskita’s light with the copper nano-flores catalyst. To further improve efficiency and overcome the energy limits of water division, researchers added silicon nanocable electrodes that, instead of dividing water, oxidize glycerol. This new platform is 200 times more effective than the previous systems for water and CO2 conversion.
Key Findings
The reaction not only improves the performance in the reduction of CO2 but also produces high-value chemicals such as glycerate, lactate, and formiatry, which have applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and chemical synthesis industry. Glycerol, usually considered a waste, plays a crucial role in improving the speed of the reaction. This shows that the platform can be applied to a wide range of chemical processes, beyond simple waste conversion.
Although the current selectivity to convert CO2 into hydrocarbons is around 10%, researchers are optimistic about improving catalyst design to increase efficiency. The team imagines applying its platform to even more complex organic reactions, opening the door to innovations in the sustainable production of chemicals. With continuous improvements, this research could accelerate the transition to a circular and neutral economy in carbon.
The investigation received support from the Winton program for sustainability physics, ST John’s College, the US Department of Energy, the European Research Council, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The researchers believe that this project is an excellent example of how global research associations can lead to significant scientific advances, and by combining the experience of Cambridge and Berkeley, they have developed a system that could transform the way we produce fuels and chemicals sustainably.