🌞 Scientists solve decade-long problem: Converting carbon dioxide to methanol (good for the climate)

• Scientists have developed a method to convert carbon dioxide into methanol using solar energy.
• The process occurs at room temperature and normal air pressure, simplifying the conversion.
• Achieving this at room temperature is something scientists have been trying to accomplish for several decades.

A groundbreaking method

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill have developed a method that converts carbon dioxide into methanol using solar energy.

This conversion occurs at room temperature and under normal air pressure, which is a significant step towards making a greenhouse gas into a sustainable and transportable fuel.

The study presents a cascade reaction strategy that mimics natural photosynthesis to convert CO2 into methanol. This multi-step process involves using a reusable organic reactant, enabling efficient and sustainable conversion.

Javier Concepcion, a researcher at Brookhaven Lab and one of the lead authors of the study, compares the process to climbing several smaller mountains instead of one large one, making it easier to reach the final goal. This approach reduces the energy required for the conversion.

Cheap and reusable molecules

The research utilizes a class of catalysts called dihydrobenzimidazoles, which are inexpensive and whose properties can be manipulated. These molecules can donate two extra electrons and a proton to other molecules, which is a necessary part of the conversion process. It is an important step towards the use of renewable organic hydride catalysts for producing methanol from CO2 at room temperature.

This methodology breaks down the conversion of CO2 to methanol into two steps: the photochemical reduction of CO2 to carbon monoxide (CO), followed by sequential hydride transfers to convert CO to methanol. The research thus represents a significant milestone in the quest to create sustainable and efficient processes for the production of liquid fuels from greenhouse gases.

Multiple uses for methanol

Methanol is a liquid that can be easily transported and stored. Besides being useful as a fuel, methanol also serves as an important raw material in the chemical industry for producing more complex molecules. Since methanol contains only one carbon atom, like CO2, it avoids the need to create carbon-carbon bonds, which require energy-intensive processes.

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