Novel Material Combination Converts CO2 into Liquid Fuel

Researchers at North Carolina State University have engineered a novel material by combining organic and inorganic properties to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into methanol, a liquid fuel. The team, led by Gregory Parsons, focused on metalcone thin films, aiming to create a surface that efficiently facilitates this conversion. Metalcones, being both organic and inorganic, offer a unique advantage, but dissolve in aqueous solutions, posing a challenge for practical use. Hyuenwoo Yang, the paper's first author, discovered that annealing tincone, a type of metalcone, at a mild temperature of 250 degrees Celsius significantly improved its stability and electrochemical properties. This process made the tincone more stable in aqueous electrolytes and enhanced charge transport, making it suitable for photoelectric chemical carbon dioxide reduction applications. The next phase involves binding carbon dioxide catalysts to the annealed tincone and integrating the material into a system to assess its efficiency in converting CO2 into methanol. This research, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, holds promise for sustainable fuel production.