Researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University of California—Berkeley have developed a system that uses nature-inspired technology to remove CO2 from the air and convert it into sustainable fuels. The device, which resembles an “artificial leaf,” uses microscopic copper nanoflowers to create cleaner hydrocarbons.
The team, led by Cambridge chemist Virgil Andrei, built on previous research into artificial leaves made with perovskite, a crystalline compound that could make solar panels more efficient in the future. The new device is 200 times more efficient than its predecessor and produces valuable chemical byproducts like glycerate, lactate, and formate.
The “artificial leaf” uses light absorption to convert CO2 into hydrocarbons, which are derived from hydrogen and carbon. By adding glycerol to the system, the researchers were able to improve the reaction rate. The device is still in its infancy, but its potential applications in reducing carbon emissions make it an exciting development for climate change mitigation.
The team’s goal was to produce more complex hydrocarbons than basic CO2 reduction, which requires significantly more energy. By combining light absorption with copper nanoflowers as a catalyst, they were able to synthesize ethane and ethylene with just CO2 and water. The “artificial leaf” has the potential to revolutionize the production of sustainable fuels, making it an essential technology in the fight against climate change.
Source: https://futurism.com/artificial-leaf-carbon-sustainable-fuel