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Chinese-Danish study takes CO2 a step closer to raw material for carbon neutral push
- Electrochemical reduction could enable the capture, storage and use of carbon dioxide, helping countries to push towards net-zero emissions
- Study sheds light on process that turns greenhouse gases into chemicals and fuels
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Researchers from China and Denmark say they have worked out an important step in how to turn carbon dioxide into a raw material using electricity – a process that could dramatically boost efforts to reduce emissions.
In a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications on Thursday, the scientists said they had established more clearly than before how electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) is made possible.
Electrochemical reduction is the conversion of CO2 to single-carbon products such as carbon monoxide and formate. It could offer a way to turn greenhouse gases into value-added chemicals and fuels.
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“This isn’t the first work, but I think this is probably the clearest work [in explaining the reaction mechanism],” said Brian Seger, co-author of the study and an associate professor at the Technical University of Denmark. “What we need to do now is to design a more efficient catalyst.”
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COP26 Glasgow, the UN Climate Change Conference: last chance to save the planet?
COP26 Glasgow, the UN Climate Change Conference: last chance to save the planet?
The ability to capture, store and use carbon dioxide – the key greenhouse gas that drives global climate change – could help countries to reach net-zero emissions targets.
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