Scientists Turn Carbon Dioxide into Fuel with Electricity: Ohio State University Leads the Way

Researchers from Ohio State University and other institutions have developed a method to convert carbon dioxide into methanol using electricity. By spreading cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) molecules over carbon nanotubes and applying an electrical current, they achieved a highly efficient conversion.

This breakthrough was observed using in-situ spectroscopy, a special method that allowed scientists to visualize the chemical reaction. They discovered that the environment where the carbon dioxide molecule reacts determines whether it turns into methanol or carbon monoxide. By controlling the distribution of the CoPc catalyst on the carbon nanotube surface, they made carbon dioxide eight times more likely to produce methanol.

Robert Baker, a professor at Ohio State University, explained that methanol is a desirable product because of its high energy density and potential as an alternative fuel. The study’s lead author, Quansong Zhu, highlighted the importance of understanding the unique chemistry at a molecular level to improve the efficiency of catalytic processes.

This research could have widespread impacts, including low-cost fuel for vehicles, heating, power generation, and future chemical discoveries. The work is ongoing, with exciting developments expected in the future.

Co-authors of the study include Conor L. Rooney and Hailiang Wang from Yale University, Hadar Shema and Elad Gross from Hebrew University, and Christina Zeng and Julien A. Panetier from Binghamton University.