Turning co2 into fuel: a breakthrough in sustainability

A team of researchers from the University of Central Florida has developed an innovative device to capture and transform CO2 into useful products: inspired by nature, the system uses a special surface to optimize the conversion process

It sounds like something out of a futuristic gimmick-a device that captures carbon dioxide and converts it into fuel. This time, however, there is one interesting innovation: the technology finds its inspiration from a flower, the lotus.

Not only does this project reduce CO2 emission, but it transforms them into useful resources. A special surface at the heart of the system makes the process more effective and even greener. Just beyond imagining another theoretical experiment here is one tangible solution ready to be put into use.

How it works

But a UCF researcher, Yang Yang, has developed a breakthrough technology that captures CO2 and then converts it into fuels and chemicals. At the heart is a micro-surface bubble electrode made from a tin oxide film with a layer of fluorine.

This valve does not only capture CO2; it actually converts it into carbon monoxide and formic acid-two key components in the production of chemicals. Yang has a very ambitious but clear vision: to drastically lower the effect of CO2 emissions while at the same time offering an alternative source of energy that could become a game-changer.

The real stroke of brilliance? It all comes from nature. The lotus flower repels water due to its hydrophobic surface, and similarly, Yang thought to make use of just this principle in order to separate water from CO2 during the conversion process.

This is where the magic of science merges with the perfection of nature. This method avoids the building up of water that would otherwise act to reduce the speed of the chemical reaction and make the system operate at full capacity. Thus, efficiency increases but also turns sustainable over a long period of time, and this shows that solutions do not lie in complex engineering only but also in observing the world surrounding us.

Beyond the lab

It’s no longer a lab experiment in isolation. The technology has already garnered interest from heavyweight scientific institutions. Backed by the National Science Foundation and the American Chemical Society, this work could be just what is needed to finally lower the carbon emissions. This could not only reduce the cost of carbon capture but in a sustainable way, using mainly renewable sources of energy, like solar or wind.

Source: University of Central Florida